SALT LAKE CITY – Five beavers contaminated in a March diesel fuel spill in Utah have been released back into the wild.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/18sHgMC) the animals were released Tuesday in the Uinta Mountains by staff members with the state Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Wildlife officials recovered the animals after a Chevron pipeline leaked about 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
The beavers were burned by petroleum and suffered respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. A beaver dam is credited with holding back much of the fuel from drifting into Willard Bay in Box Elder County.
A sixth beaver underwent surgery to remove a toe that was injured while in captivity. That animal is still recovering and is expected to be released in two weeks.
