NEW BEDFORD — The three newborn residents of Buttonwood Park Zoo They are already expected to build great things.
Zoo officials announced the arrival of three American beavers, also known as kits, born on May 16. The kits’ parents are Wicket, an 8-year-old female, and Justin, a 6-year-old male, according to the zoo’s news release.
The three kits “have already begun exploring their outdoor habitat,” zoo officials wrote in the statement. release. “Beaver kits are born with their eyes open, their teeth fully erupted and able to swim – with one testing its abilities at just fourteen days old!”
How are the kits?
According to the release, Dr. Emmy Budas, the zoo’s veterinarian, examined all three kits on May 31 and determined that they were all “in good health and at a healthy weight.”
“The sex of each kit will be determined later, as an x-ray will be required,” the statement said.
“All three beaver kits are growing at a fast and steady rate,” Budas said. “They have thick, shaggy fur, which helps keep them afloat when they learn to swim. Everyone is starting to explore eating solid foods, which is beyond adorable to watch. It was a joy to see Wicket and Justin being so affectionate and attentive to their kits. This little family is definitely an exciting sight to behold!”
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Baby beavers are ‘excellent ambassadors’
Zoo officials said the new beaver kits “are excellent ambassadors for their species, giving BPZOO the opportunity to showcase the vital role that beavers play in our ecosystems”, noting that populations of the species in the wild are stable.
The release notes that as a species, beavers are second only to humans when it comes to their tendency to “alter their environment.”
“Acting as nature’s engineers, beavers are known for their extraordinary ability to transform the environment around them through activities such as building dams using sticks, mud and stones,” says the zoo’s statement. “These dams create lagoons and wetlands that support diverse ecosystems, serving as crucial habitats for fish, amphibians, birds and many plant species, promoting biodiversity. Dams also play a critical role in maintaining water levels in streams and rivers .”
Can I see the kits this summer?
Zoo visitors will be able to visit Wicket, Justin and their three new kits this summer, according to the release, which offers the opportunity to witness their “natural dam-building behaviors” in person.
“Scheduled ‘Keeper Chats’ can be held throughout the summer and provide an opportunity to learn more about beaver behavior, their environmental impact, and BPZOO’s ongoing conservation efforts alongside them,” the release reads.
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If you go
Buttonwood Park Zoo is at 425 Hawthorn St., New Bedford. Its hours are 9am to 4pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Ticket prices for non-New Bedford residents are $10 for adults or $6 for children ages 3-12. Tickets for New Bedford residents are $7.50 for adults or $4.50 for children ages 3-12.
For more information visit www.bpzoo.org or call 508-991-4556.
This article originally appeared in the Standard-Times: Buttonwood Park Zoo welcomes three baby beavers to New Bedford
