Beaver and muskrat captured in wild chase at Tempe Town Lake

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 21:20 · Archive

Park rangers captured a beaver and an adult muskrat after a chase at Tempe Town Lake in Arizona on Tuesday morning.

Tempe park rangers captured a beaver and an adult muskrat after a chase along Tempe Town Lake on Tuesday morning. The beaver resisted capture, wriggling free from a net several times before rangers eventually secured it in a metal crate. One park ranger appeared to be bleeding from his hand, though the nature of the injury was unclear.

Both animals are semi-aquatic rodents but differ in size, tail shape, swimming style and home-building habits. Officials have not explained how the animals ended up at the lake, though Salt River Project has been increasing water releases from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams into the Salt and Verde rivers, with some water flowing into Tempe Town Lake.

Both animals will be taken to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. Tempe Town Lake is closed to the public until conditions calm down, affecting paddle boating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rowing and sailing. Parks around the lake remain open and fishing is still allowed. Officials ask the public to avoid touching wild animals.

Beaver and muskrat captured in wild chase at Tempe Town Lake — Image: KOLD

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

WATCH: Beaver, muskrat captured in wild chase at Tempe Town LakePark rangers nearly found themselves chewing off more than they could handle during a wild waterfront chase with an unexpected animal at Tempe Town Lake.KOLD · 3 Nov, 18:42
WATCH: 2 beavers captured in wild chase at Tempe Town LakePark rangers nearly found themselves chewing off more than they could handle during a wild waterfront chase with an unexpected animal at Tempe Town Lake.Azfamily · 3 Nov, 17:34

In this story: Tempe Town Lake · Salt River Project · Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center · Bartlett · Stewart Mountain

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log