BALDWINSVILLE — Back in February, Kindred Kingdoms Wildlife Rehabilitation Center directors Jean and Len Soprano rescued a small beaver off Gaskin Road in Whispering Woods.
After more than a month of rehab, the Sopranos released the beaver into the Seneca River on March 19. They carried him in a medium animal carrier, put him in a small cart with wheels and pulled him down a muddy wet path about 1/4 mile to the river.
When they rescued him, Jean Soprano said he was 14 pounds and they thought he was about 2 years old. They wanted to make sure the beaver was not sick so they took him to the Cornell Wildlife vet program for an exam. Based on the body scans they did, they determined the skeleton of the beaver was that of a 1-year-old instead of what they originally thought. Since the mother will care for her babies for two years, this beaver will find his way back to his mother at the beaver den.
During the time the Sopranos had the beaver, he was fed poplar trees in the area of the rehab facility. Jean said the beaver loved sweet potatoes. By the time they released him, he had gained about 6 pounds.
Jean and Len said they have plenty of work to do with a full house of raptors, including an eagle and a saw-whet owl (one of the smallest species of owl) as well as black bears.
If you don’t know what some of these birds and animals look like up close, you can visit either Beaver Lake Nature Center or Baltimore Woods Nature Center to see their collections.
To learn more about Kindred Kingdoms, which is located in Phoenix, visit kindredkingdoms.com.
