Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP / Getty Images
A Fairfax County beaver named Wally was saved from extermination after a community petition gathered over 2-thousand signatures. The Kingstowne Community Association initially planned to trap and remove Wally due to concerns about tree loss, but Virginia law prohibits relocation, meaning he would have been euthanized.
In response to public outcry, officials chose non-lethal measures like fencing and dam removal to encourage Wally to move naturally. Advocates celebrated the decision, calling it a great example of the power of community action in protecting local wildlife.