Beaver, muskrat rescued from flooded Tempe lake

Tempe Town Lake is closed to the public following recent flooding, conditions that led to the rescue of a beaver and a muskrat on Tuesday. Park rangers extracted the two animals from the water after storm surges from the Salt and Verde Rivers washed them downstream into the lake.

The pair was transported to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in north Scottsdale for treatment. Dani Branchini, the clinic manager, described the animals as exhausted and scared upon arrival. Staff observed that both creatures were lethargic and reluctant to move, with the beaver showing particular signs of distress.

Kim Carr, the animal care manager at the center, explained that the flooding displaced the animals from their usual habitats. While beavers and muskrats frequent surrounding waterways, Carr noted that they do not typically reside in Tempe Town Lake because its concrete structure prevents them from building lodges or dams.

The medical team identified aspiration pneumonia in the beaver, a condition that can occur when an animal ingests a large volume of water unexpectedly. Branchini suggested that well-meaning onlookers may have prevented the beaver from resting adequately before its rescue, exacerbating its condition.

Carr stated that the immediate priority is to encourage the beaver to begin eating. She noted that the animal had a healthy weight, which is a positive indicator for its recovery. Wild animals are generally resilient, and staff are cautiously optimistic about the pair's prospects for full rehabilitation.

The conservation center aims to release the animals back into the wild as soon as they are healthy enough. The beaver and muskrat will remain under medical supervision while staff monitor their progress and treat the beaver's respiratory infection.