{"id":259226,"date":"2026-06-08T14:38:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/259226\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T14:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:38:23","slug":"oh-dam-incredibly-rare-beaver-sighting-caught-on-camera-in-hudson-river-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/259226\/","title":{"rendered":"Oh dam! Incredibly rare beaver sighting caught on camera in Hudson River Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

A beaver made a rare guest appearance on the shores of Manhattan, and a lucky water-watcher caught the incredible moment all on video.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Footage by Sophia Tulp, shared on social media on Thursday, shows the aquatic rodent enjoying some Hudson River waves before emerging from a refreshing swim onto some rocks on the West Side\u2019s Gansevoort Peninsula in Hudson River Park<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to park reps, the adorable moment marked the first-ever recorded sighting of a beaver in the park\u2019s 400-acre estuarine sanctuary, a protected area where freshwater and saltwater mix. Areas such as this serve as wildlife habitats set aside to support scientific research and education.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Check out the Park\u2019s newest visitor \u2014 a beaver! \ud83e\uddab Recently seen swimming around Gansevoort Peninsula, this beaver marks the first recorded sighting in our 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary! Though a rare sight in NYC, beavers are native to our local waterways. <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf9: Sophia Tulp pic.twitter.com\/Vn84thmGCl<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Hudson River Park (@HudsonRiverPark) June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis video when it was posted, it was the first recorded confirmed sighting of a beaver in our park,\u201d explained Tina Walsh, vice president of partnerships and engagement at Hudson River Park Trust. \u201cAnd part of why that\u2019s really special is because the park is not only green space but it\u2019s also a 400-acre estuarine sanctuary\u2014protected marine waters that support incredible biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aquatic areas such as this serve as wildlife habitats set aside to support scientific research, education and, of course, lots of animals who live both above and below the water. These animals include various fish, tiny crustaceans like fiddler crabs, and larger mammals, such as the beaver, a species most famously known for building dams to create ponds where they build protective lodges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know there are some surprising animals that live in our waterways, like sea horses under the surface,\u201d Walsh said. \u201cAnd I think a lot of people are similarly surprised to learn that beavers, not only are they native to New York City and the lower Hudson River, but they can be spotted here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beavers are so quintessential New York that the species is actually the state\u2019s official mammal. The animal is also prominently displayed on the New York City Seal.\u00a0
\n\"policeThe city seal on the NYPD\u2019s Medal of Honor. Beavers on the seal are circled in red.Photo by Barbara Russo-Lennon\n<\/p>\n

Sadly, however, at one time they were hunted for their pelts, which, along with habitat loss, caused their numbers to decline from 60 million to nearly none, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation<\/a>. But efforts to save the species, including the Clean Water Act and the prohibition on trapping, helped its population bounce back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But it is still rare to spot a beaver in NYC, especially in Manhattan. As Walsh explained, the animal\u2014the world\u2019s second-largest rodent after the capybara\u2014has been spotted primarily in Staten Island and New Jersey in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The chonky mammal has also been spotted in the Bronx River<\/a>, including one given the name Jose the Beaver by conservationists when he was first spotted there in 2007.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, is the newest resident rodent in Hudson River Park going to stick around for a bit? Likely not, explained Walsh.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say a lot of times when they\u2019ve been seen in the area, they are solitary,\u201d the educator said, while not ruling out the possibility of more beaver sightings. \u201cWe\u2019re keeping our eyes open, scouring, and I\u2019m sure now that people have seen the video they are also looking, but I think all signs point to it being a visitor passing through, but we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

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