Adorable New Baby Beavers Born at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo

There's been another adorable addition to the family at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

Ever since the zoo opened their North America East exhibit in 2000, American beavers have been on building and swimming in New Bedford.

Now there are even more of them for guests to enjoy.

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In a new Facebook post from the zoo comes the news that more baby beavers have arrived, though their timing does come with a bit of tragedy.

New Baby Beavers at Buttonwood Park Zoo

As the zoo shared on June 7, their female beaver Wicket recently became a mom again. Seven weeks ago she welcomed two kits, named JJ and Widdle, and they have started to explore their surroundings.

READ MORE: Buttonwood Park Zoo Welcomes First Baby Sloth Born at Zoo

Their arrival at the zoo however comes on the heels of some sad news. Unfortunately their father, Justin, did not live to see his latest kits born.

Justin sadly passed away in late April, just before the new babies arrived, though he did help prepared for them. Zoo staff say he worked to collect the sticks, hay and logs needed to build Wicket a nest to give birth in and intentionally left behind food items for his partner to make sure she was eating enough for three.

How Did Buttonwood Park Zoo's Male Beaver, Justin, Die?

Justin was obviously a good provider and a serious fighter. Even with a bacterial infection that developed into a pulmonary abscess, he did what a new father needed to do. Sadly the damage to his lungs was too great to make it to seeing his new babies and Justin died at age 7 several weeks ago.

Though the zoo was saddened by his death, his mentoring of his oldest kits, Snorkel, Scuba and Surf, lives on.

READ MORE: Buttonwood Park Zoo Mourns Passing of Animal Ambassador Opossum

The three older beavers, born just a year ago, welcomed their new siblings and are reportedly already passing what they learned from their father onto the new babies.