Chelmsford Wildlife Rescue Beaver Video Goes Viral

CHELMSFORD, MA — A video clip of a beaver at a Chelmsford wildlife rescue has gone viral, including being featured on CNN on Monday.

On Oct. 19, the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue posted a video on social media of a beaver named Nibi, a 5-month-old female, who reportedly does not get along with her roommate Ziibi, another female beaver.

When Ziibi was taken from the room to enjoy time in a semi-aquatic enclosure, Nibi began collecting sticks from a cage in the room and damming up the door, seemingly to prevent Ziibi from returning.

"As a reward for good behavior towards her new roommate, Nibi was allowed to have the rehab room to herself while Ziibi enjoyed the semi-aquatic enclosure," the wildlife rescue wrote on Twitter. "Nibi immediately started building a dam at the door where her roommate exited…you know…in case Ziibi tries to come back.

On CNN, Jane Newhouse, founder of the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, said the dam-building behavior is instinctual in beavers.

"It's so ingrained in them, they'll take anything (to build a dam)," Newhouse said.

In fact, Newhouse told the station that beavers will begin building a dam if they hear rain or even a running faucet, and that they'll use anything — even toys or a blanket —in order to build the dam.

On Tuesday, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue posted a video on Facebook that showed the two beavers interacting, and seemingly not getting along.

In the video, Nibi is in a cage and Ziibi is outside of the cage. Ziibi is acting like she wants to be friends, but "Nibi is a brat and tries to shove Ziibi through the cage," the wildlife rescue wrote.

Still, Ziibi refuses to move and remains next to the cage.

"Ziibi just likes being close to (Nibi)," the wildlife rescue wrote. "Ziibi may also enjoy aggravating Nibi."

The wildlife rescue added: "We have our hands full with these two."