Last May, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, took in Nibi, a young beaver, after efforts to reunite him with his family failed. Quickly, Nibi wins the hearts of everyone at the shelter, who aim to rehabilitate and eventually release her back into the wild.
Nibi enjoyed her unique status as the center’s only beaver, relishing her personal space. However, his lonely life changed when the shelter introduced another young beaver, Ziibi.
Ziibi, described as “quite shy” and “very gentle,” failed to win over Nibi. Despite the shelter’s hope that the two orphaned beavers would bond, there was tension. Nibi showed aggression towards Ziibi, clearly unhappy about sharing her space.
Newhouse Wildlife Rescue noted Nibi’s territorial behavior, saying, “Beavers can be very territorial and aggressive towards newcomers so we’ve been very slow with these two.”
The rivalry escalated as Nibi made a beaver-like strategy to eliminate Ziibi for good. The shelter recounts that Nibi, given solo time for her improved behavior with Ziibi, took this opportunity to make sure Ziibi couldn’t return—by building a dam to block the door.
Footage of Nibi’s dam-building went viral, garnering over 10 million views on Facebook, making viewers laugh at her determination to maintain solitude.
This display of natural behavior, even in captivity and without family guidance, captivated many. Jane Newhouse, the shelter’s founder, commented to KENS 5 about the beavers’ instincts, “They’re so ingrained that they’ll take anything.”
Despite the current conflict, the rescue remains hopeful that Nibi and Ziibi will form a bond, emphasizing the importance of their relationship for successful rehabilitation.
“If they are both raised alone, they are more apt to bond with people or become socially inept in the wild,” the shelter explains. They focus on fostering a positive relationship between beavers to enhance their chances of thriving in the wild.
Recently, there has been a slight improvement in their relationship. The rescue shared that Nibi and Ziibi are now “tolerating” each other and can share space without conflict, although they are closely monitored to avoid any conflicts.
As these beavers continue their journey toward rehabilitation, hope remains that they will overcome their differences and successfully reintegrate into their natural habitat.
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