A viral Beaver from Massachusetts named Nibi has taken the internet by storm. After being abandoned on the side of the road as a baby, the little beaver was taken in and raised by Chelmsford, Massachusetts' Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. Being labeled by her rescuers as a "diva" for her confident behavior, the beaver with a mischievous smile became an internet darling and amassed many fans.
However, controversy arose in September when the now 2-year-old Nibi was ordered to be released back into the wild by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Nibi's rescuers feared for her survival and were ready to head for a court battle. However, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey stepped in on Thursday, October 3, issuing a permit for Nibi to become an educational animal.
Nibi the beaver is now an educational animal
The curious case of Nibi began in 2022 when the then-newborn beaver was found on the side of a road in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Jane Newhouse rescued the animal and tended to her at the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford for two years. It was difficult for the beaver to get along with others of her kind as she was the only orphaned beaver in New England five months after her rescue.
The beaver gained fame online, becoming a viral sensation for her round, furry little frame and highly confident attitude, which was deemed diva-like by the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. Now, the little beaver is two years of age, around the same age her fellow beavers may leave to mate and construct a home.
According to NBC10 Boston last month, Jane Newhouse's request to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) for the young female beaver to become an educational beaver was rejected. MassWildlife told the publication they informed Jane in June that the beaver had to be released to the wild for the animal to "lead fulfilling lives and contribute to the ecosystem."
The rescuers filed a case against MassWildlife, set for a hearing on Friday, October 4. According to court documents obtained by NPR, they didn't want the beaver released as according to them, she was not ready to survive in the wild without human care.
According to the documents, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue stated that they tried to re-introduce the beaver to the wild previously but had been unsuccessful due to being taken in at such a young age. The rescuers also added that the beaver did not possess the instinct to hunt her own food and refused to integrate with other beavers on multiple occasions in the past.
Jane Newhouse did not want Nibi released during this time of the year. She told NBC10 Boston in an article published on October 1:
"I don't like the idea of her being released now. It's certainly she has less of a chance of surviving now than she would if she was released in April or May of next year."
She added:
"I made a promise to this animal, a promise I don't plan on going back on and if it means that this is the end of me and my permit gets pulled that's fine."
Nibi's case became so famous that a Change.org petition to keep the beaver at the rescue center was formed on October 1 and amassed over 29,000 signatures. However, the day before the decisive hearing on Friday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey stepped in and announced that a permit had been issued for the beaver to stay at the wildlife rescue.
The Governor said in a statement published on Thursday, October 3, that the beaver had "captured the hearts" of many Massachusetts residents. She stated:
"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. I'm grateful to our state's dedicated wildlife biologists who work every day to care for Massachusetts wildlife, and I hope Nibi inspires more people to protect our natural world."
On the same day the statement was released, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue released a Facebook post applauding the Governor's decision. The Wildlife Rescue detailed that the whole movement behind the 2-year-old beaver was about "speaking for a creature who could not speak for herself" and righting a wrong.