The Beaver Is Back
By Hannah Isom
After an absence of more than 200 years, the beaver is back in New York City. A bevy of beaver enthusiasts from the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society have discovered evidence that this furry friend has made a welcome return to the banks of the Bronx River.
Members of the conservation group were alerted to the presence of beavers when they spotted gnawed logs and a beaver lodge along the banks of the river. An actual beaver has since been caught on camera, and has been given the affectionate nickname José, after Congressman José E Serrano, a devoted advocate of the Bronx River.
The American beaver (Castor canadensis) was once commonplace across the USA, but they were hunted to the point of virtual extinction in colonial times along with much of America’s indigenous wildlife.
The return of the beaver has therefore been greatly welcomed. “This is a symbolic moment for our great city,” said Dr Steven Sanderson, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“The fact that an animal which represents the wild frontier of North America can live and thrive in a river that runs through the Bronx Zoo is proof that we can coexist with nature anywhere on the planet.” The fact that it was this same ‘wild frontier’ that nearly made the poor beavers extinct in the first place is more than a little ironic.
Beavers are the world’s second largest semi-aquatic rodents. They continue to grow into adulthood and can reach 2–3 feet in length and weight up to 55 pounds. They have numerous super-evolved features, such as their flat tails that can be used as a rudder when swimming and also to slap on the water to warn friends of imminent danger.
They can fell trees with their enormous teeth, and use them to build dams, known as lodges. These not only provide a home for the beavers, but also create wetlands, encouraging other wildlife in the area to thrive.
So adored are the be-furred beasts, that there is even a road one block down from the New York Stock Exchange called Beaver Street. Linda Cox, Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance, couldn’t be happier with the situation. “It’s proof positive that our efforts to bring the river back to ecological health have been successful”, says Linda, “We look forward to beaver watching in the spring!”
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Members of the conservation group were alerted to the presence of beavers when they spotted gnawed logs and a beaver lodge along the banks of the river. An actual beaver has since been caught on camera, and has been given the affectionate nickname José, after Congressman José E Serrano, a devoted advocate of the Bronx River.
The American beaver (Castor canadensis) was once commonplace across the USA, but they were hunted to the point of virtual extinction in colonial times along with much of America’s indigenous wildlife.
The return of the beaver has therefore been greatly welcomed. “This is a symbolic moment for our great city,” said Dr Steven Sanderson, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“The fact that an animal which represents the wild frontier of North America can live and thrive in a river that runs through the Bronx Zoo is proof that we can coexist with nature anywhere on the planet.” The fact that it was this same ‘wild frontier’ that nearly made the poor beavers extinct in the first place is more than a little ironic.
Beavers are the world’s second largest semi-aquatic rodents. They continue to grow into adulthood and can reach 2–3 feet in length and weight up to 55 pounds. They have numerous super-evolved features, such as their flat tails that can be used as a rudder when swimming and also to slap on the water to warn friends of imminent danger.
They can fell trees with their enormous teeth, and use them to build dams, known as lodges. These not only provide a home for the beavers, but also create wetlands, encouraging other wildlife in the area to thrive.
So adored are the be-furred beasts, that there is even a road one block down from the New York Stock Exchange called Beaver Street. Linda Cox, Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance, couldn’t be happier with the situation. “It’s proof positive that our efforts to bring the river back to ecological health have been successful”, says Linda, “We look forward to beaver watching in the spring!”
Hannah's other articles might just tickle your fancy.
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