When this Daddy beaver’s mate died of an infection a little over a year ago, wildlife beaver experts in Martinez, California, were worried for the safety of his 3 children.
All beaver life lessons in survival and being a self-reliant adult beaver are taught by the mother. Mom Beaver was very nurturing and she and Dad had raised 12 kits (that’s kids in beaver talk) before the current 3 – one was 2 years old and the other 2 around 7 weeks.
As beavers are strictly monogamous creatures, this little loving family was torn apart with her death, and Dad disappeared 3 days, leaving the babies alone. When he returned, he was thinner (he was grieving), but he was back to nurture and teach his kits all they needed to know to go out in the world.
He’s been bringing them food, keeping them warm and safe, teaching them to swim with piggy back rides and also how to forage for food and build dams.
And, it seems that after a year in mourning, Dad beaver may have found someone new – as he’s been seen taking fennel back to the family home, and fennel is used with lactating with beavers.
Happy father’s day, and let’s hope more humans, male and female, can take a page out of this heroic beaver’s book.
