A fat Hamilton beaver that got stuck in a fence has been freed by the soapy hands of a quick-thinking animal services worker #zoornalism pic.twitter.com/IkSYz3t2Dc — Liam Casey (@liamdevlincasey) April 26, 2017

Say you’re a beaver in springtime. You’ve spent most of winter bored in your lodge, filling up on bark and cattail roots, waiting for the weather to warm up again. Finally, it does, and you rush off on your regular route—paddle through the pond, walk down the pathway, squeeze between the rails of that metal fence…

Whoops. You’re stuck.

Such was the situation in Hamilton, Ontario yesterday, when an animal services officer was called to rescue a chubby beaver trapped in a fence. “He landed… arse over teakettle through the fence onto a lower section of ground and couldn’t pull his rear-end through with his tiny front paws,” a city statement explains. The officer helped him out, using grit and a lot of soap.

The beaver sustained some injuries from his adventure, and is now recovering at Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge—where, the refuge says, he has thus far enjoyed “a swim and a bath.” Once he’s fully rehabilitated, he’ll be released back in his hometown, and will presumably get serious about his springtime exercise regime.

Every day, we track down a fleeting wonder—something amazing that’s only happening right now. Have a tip for us? Tell us about it! Send your temporary miracles to cara@atlasobscura.com.