Nibi's Situation Settled... for Now
The plight of a rescue beaver at the center of a legal battle
Today’s hed gif features Nibi, the rescue beaver from Massachusetts who gained recent international attention for both her spunky, headstrong cuteness and legal wrangling around her care and release status.
Nibi is a resident of the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. She had been orphaned as baby, about a week old, discovered at the side of a road in 2022. Rescuers searched for her family but were unable to locate her mother, and so she was taken into care. Typically rescue beavers are rehabilitated for about two years with minimal human interaction and then released when possible. It is at the two-year mark where beavers mature to the point where their hormones take over and they search out other beavers. So, in keeping with protocol, Massachusetts’ division of fisheries and wildlife requested that a healthy Nibi be returned to the wild by October of this year. However, Newhouse Wildlife resisted, arguing that a pre-winter release would be dangerous, citing testemony from other wildlife experts in support of their position. Because she was rescued at such a young age, Nibi’s exposure to humans had been unavoidable. Further complicating matters, the wildlife group had previously tried to introduce Nibi to other beavers to help socialize her in preparation for a return to the wild, but Nibi wanted no part of it. Humorously, she even built a “dam” against a door at the rescue facility in order to keep one of these other beavers from returning to her turf. Her antics have earned her a reputation as a “diva” at the rescue center and her cheeky demeanor have helped her garner social media attention.
Setting up a legal showdown, Newhouse Wildlife filed an injunction with the commonwealth, which scheduled a hearing for mid-October to resolve the matter. Online petitioners organized a drive, gathering over 29,000 signatures in support of Nibi remaining at the rescue center. But before the hearing could take place, Mass governor Maura Healey interceded on behalf of the social media starlet beaver. “Nibi has captured the hearts of many of our residents, mine included,” said Healey in a statement issued October 3rd. “We’re excited to share that we have issued a permit for Nibi to remain in Newhouse’s care, continuing to educate the public about this important species.”
With her legal situation resolved, Nibi is slated to be an educational ambassador, traveling to small gatherings while Newhouse Wildlife continues to monitor her progress. It is possible that in the future her hormones and instincts will take over and she will eschew further human interaction. Massachusetts’ Fish & Game Division and Newhouse Wildlife have agreed to reassess her status at a later date if necessary.
BBC: "Nibi the 'diva' beaver allowed to stay at wildlife rescue centre" 10/4/24
Beaver! I hardly knew her! And now I do, thanks to you! 😘
thanks for the history of Nibi's case. She's adorable.