St. Francis Hospital in Tennessee received a surprise visitor on Christmas morning when a runaway beaver managed to find its way into the hospital’s lobby. The Bartlett Police Department was promptly called to the scene to deal with the humorous situation.
According to the agency’s social media, a call was received around 6:45 a.m. on Christmas morning about a beaver on the loose at St. Francis Hospital. Accompanying the post was a photo of an officer with the captured beaver, snugly placed in a large black cart with a light blue blanket.
“Things you do not want under you tree this Christmas,” the department joked.
Describing the encounter, the post noted the beaver’s impressive size, saying it was “huge … because those carts are pretty good size.”
Another amusing snapshot shared on Facebook depicted the beaver underneath a piano, nibbling on what appeared to be wood. The caption read: “Nom nom nom piano legs.”
In an interview with McClatchy News, a spokesperson for the department revealed that the beaver had sought refuge under the piano in the hospital’s lounge, possibly looking to chew on a Christmas tree.
While the department did not elaborate on how the beaver managed to infiltrate the hospital, they hinted that the automatic entry doors might have been activated by the sizable visitor.
Officer Robb Read, hailed as the beaver’s savior, was the one responsible for securing the furry creature. It was safely relocated to a more suitable area — a nearby canal. The police department did not disclose the precise release location, but assured the public that “no beavers or officers were injured” during the rescue.
The lighthearted social media posts garnered widespread attention, amassing over 1,800 likes and numerous comments, including jests about Santa’s possible confusion in delivering the beaver.