Young beaver’s death by overeating mystifies

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 30

Young beaver’s death by overeating mystifies

NZPPA-AP Bear Mountain Scores of children entered a name-the-beaver contest at a local zoo but the event had to be cancelled when the animal died of overeating. The 11-week-old male beaver died at the Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo, in New York after officials received 62 entries for the contest, which was sponsored to publicise the zoo.

The cause of death appeared to be a perforated stomach, stemming from overeating. The museum’s director, Jack Mead, said that zoo officials were puzzled by the death,

“We cannot explain, nor can the veterinarians, why an animal would eat too much,” he said. “You would think an animal would have enough sense to know when to stop. But apparently he could not.” ,

Although beavers are common in the north-east, this was the zoo’s only specimen. Zoo officials had pampered it, constructing a special enclosure and feeding aspen and, occasionally, apples and sweet potatoes to the beaver.

Zoo officials hope to get two more beavers by next year and to reschedule the contest. All letters received this year would be saved and used then, Mr Mead said.