It was a standoff that no one saw coming.
Earlier this week, police in Firestone, Colorado, were alerted to an unusual road hazard interrupting the flow of traffic — a large, wayward beaver. The animal had apparently wandered from a nearby wetland and was attempting to cross a busy street.
To the beaver’s credit, he appeared to be using a crosswalk by the time officers arrived at the scene. Even so, the busy street posed a serious risk.
After police blocked the street to avoid him getting hit by a car, they then attempted to escort him to safety. As body camera footage of the incident shows, however, the beaver was less than fully compliant:
In the end, after some pleading on the part of the officers, the beaver was convinced to head back to safer ground.
“Never have I ever,” one of the officers can be heard saying.
Fortunately, aside from showing some stubbornness, the beaver appeared to be in good health, likely having used drainage pipes to navigate under roads before attempting to actually cross one.
In this incident, local police were diligent in keeping residents safe — including those with leathery tails.
“[W]e’re always happy to help — whether it’s a serious emergency, a community concern, or an unexpectedly stubborn wildlife encounter,” the Firestone Police Department wrote. “We’ll be here when you need us.”