Can you return a healthy beaver to any beaver colony?

• A. Yes
• B. Only with written permission
• C. Only if the colony is the same size
• D. No

Answer: (D)

Beavers are highly social and territorial animals, and releasing a rehabilitated individual must follow an approved plan, not a random placement. A healthy beaver should not be returned to any beaver colony without proper authorization and a targeted release site. Dropping a newcomer into a colony can lead to aggression, injury, or rejection by the colony, and it can also disrupt the colony’s social structure and dam-building activities. The safe, proper approach is to release only at an agency-approved site, ideally at the original capture location or another designated release area that has been assessed for habitat suitability and population considerations, and to coordinate with wildlife authorities. This minimizes risk to the beaver and to existing colonies.