A beaver rescued by Lincoln Animal Control during extreme cold is on the road to recovery after receiving treatment at a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Animal Control said the animal—found in “rough condition” outside Mum’s Liquor near 22nd and O streets—was transported to Nebraska Wildlife Rehab in Omaha. In a recent update, officials with the Nebraska Wildlife Rehab center in Omaha said the beaver is making progress.
Rehabilitation staff said the animal arrived thin, limping and covered in ice despite beavers being well adapted to cold conditions. The species typically stays near lodges in winter and travels under ice, so finding one on a city sidewalk indicated it was displaced and in distress.
Caregivers treated the beaver’s injuries and report improvements in mobility and appetite. The animal is now resting in a temperature-controlled space while staff continue supportive care and monitoring.
At the time of the rescue, Lincoln Animal Control Manager Denise Bollwitt said officers responded after a report that the beaver was not moving well in subzero temperatures. Ice crystals were visible on its fur, and the animal was taken to the rehab facility for evaluation.
Bollwitt noted beavers are occasionally encountered in the area due to nearby waterways, including Antelope Creek, but advised residents not to approach wildlife and to contact authorities if animals appear injured.
Officials have not provided a timeline for release but say updates on the beaver’s recovery are expected.
Photo: Lincoln Animal Control