Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
NORFOLK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Animal control officers in several towns south of Boston are asking drivers to look out for beavers on roads near wetlands and marshes.
According to Norfolk Animal Control Officer Hilary Cohen and Millis/Medway Animal Control Officer Erin Mallette, eight beavers have been struck and killed by vehicles in those three towns in recent weeks.
With the animals in breeding season, juvenile beavers are leaving their lodges in search of a mate, resulting in some getting run over by cars as they attempt to cross the road.
"This time of year, the kids from last year are trying to establish their new territory," Cohen told WBZ NewsRadio Wednesday. "So they are crossing the roadways, and they are semi-aquatic, so they are a lot slower on land than they are in the water."
Mallette warned drivers that not only could beavers be hurt by a collision, but due to the weight of the creatures ranging from 30 to 80 lbs., it "could cause massive damage to motor vehicles or injuries to drivers if they veer off the side of the road."
Beavers also have dark brown to reddish fur, making them hard to see when there is little to no light outside.
"We did put out an alert on our Facebook page, just asking people to please slow down when driving [at] dusk, dawn, at nighttime," Mallette said. "Because you can’t really see beavers due to their coat color."
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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