BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Three controversial beavers that made national headlines last December were finally spotted along the Kern River Bike Path.

There had been signs of the beavers thriving along the bike path since the city announced they were going to trap and kill the family of beavers last December. Trees had been damaged along the Kern River, including one particular tree with two of its giant branches gnawed off.

What irked the city to want to trap and kill the beavers were felled $500 trees on the bike bath near the Park at Riverwalk in late 2007 and early 2008.

After a national outcry the beavers were saved and the city said they would relocate the beavers. There’s no word on those relocation plans.

Still, no photos or videos of the mystery beavers had surfaced. And it was also unknown how many beavers there actually were.

Then, when another of the trees planted to beautify the bike path fell in June, the beavers made local headlines again.

Finally, one witness, Melody Saberon, reported people had been gathering along the bike path over the past few nights to catch a glimpse of the creatures.

“Tuesday night, I saw people gather on the bike path. But I didn’t see anything,” said Saberon. “Then Thursday night we walked to the creek where they live (from the bike path) because we saw the one adult beaver. Then we turned around and we saw two little ones.”

Saberon, who was with her daughter Jai Ann said it was a “very quick glimpse of three beavers” but that another mom and a kid also saw them. She said when others came to see, the animals disappeared beneath the water. Saberon shot video of one of them before it went under.

She said she was surprised at how large the adult beaver was.