Have you seen Cauliflower?
Last week the Utica Zoo welcomed three North American beavers back to their Backyards & Barnyards exhibits.
Cauliflower, a male, was transported to Central New York along with his sisters, Mustard and Tangerine. The trio was born in 2023 at the Minnesota Zoo.
Just 24 hours after their arrival, zoo keepers discovered that Cauliflower had escaped his enclosure. According to a social media post, Utica Zoo staff immediately initiated a Code Blue response, a protocol designated for the escape of a non-dangerous animal.
The crepuscular creature was briefly spotted within zoo grounds, but as of yet, he is still missing.
According to zoo staff, Cauliflower is about the age when wild male beavers set off on their own to establish their own territory and find a mate.
Executive Director Andria Heath told the Rome Sentinel that although Cauliflower is neutered, he might feel a need for a new habitat away from his sisters.
Zoo staff have set live traps, employed trail cams, and drones and the search has involved multiple agencies including the Utica Police Department, NYS DEC, the City of Utica and more.
A trio of young beavers were transported to the Utica Zoo from Minnesota on April 8, 2025. Provided photo | Utica ZooProvided photo | Utica Zoo
The zoo has also asked for the public’s help to report if they see a beaver in or near the zoo grounds. The tip line has been busy, but many of the animals residents are reporting are woodchucks and not beavers.
To tell the two brown mammals apart, a key difference is their tails. Beavers have a flat, paddle-shaped tail while woodchucks have skinnier, furry tails.
A North American beaver sits next to a pond in Moapa, Nevada. The North American beaver is the largest rodent in the United States and second largest in the world. Getty ImagesGetty Images
The zoo said that with 67 acres of wooded land, natural bodies of water, and streams within the zoo’s perimeter, they remain optimistic that Cauliflower is still nearby and safe in a familiar and suitable area.
While the search continues, Mustard and Tangerine are off exhibit.
Anyone with information on Cauliflower can call the zoo’s tip line at 315-520-8010.