Chickadee Photo Art » beaver

Beavers “Super Beaver”

Sharon — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:12 +0000

This adult beaver was busy eating the leaves and branches of a recently harvested branch. Two adults were floating this branch in the water only to be met by two beaver kits (photos below). The little kits swam out from the edges of the creek to meet their parents and promptly started munching on the leaves as well.

I recently saw a nature show featuring the Canadian Beaver who is wreaking havoc in South America. In South America they are known as Super Beaver because of their ability to alter entire ecosystems. It seems our Canadian Beavers are very adaptable to different environments, are active for longer periods throughout the day and therefore create their watery worlds at a faster rate. Our transplanted Canadian Beavers are thriving and destroying forests and valleys on the island of Tierra del Fuego. Beavers also create wetland habitats for the benefit of other species and are nature’s greatest engineers. The most fascinating rodent and so much fun to watch!

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Rock Climbing Beaver

Sharon — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 11:00:22 +0000

We were fishing one summer afternoon and from a distance saw an object moving up and down a rock face in Nopiming Provincial Park. We moved closer to take a look and found this young beaver quite high up on the rocks. It appeared to be dining on wild straberries growing in the rock crevices. I love watching these animals – when they are out and about they always have a purpose to what they are doing. After a while, the beaver moved back down to water level, slipped in and at that point slapped its tail for us.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

DAM those Beavers . . .

Sharon — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:06 +0000

If you ever have the opportunity and some time to spare sit quietly and watch some beavers. They are often out and about in the late afternoons before dark sets in. They spend a lot of time grooming their beautiful dense fur releasing oils which keep their bodies dry. Beavers are chatty, social in their family groups, graceful in the water, waddle on land and extremely industrious. They drag limbs of trees through water channels with ease, cut down large trees with expert precision and create small lakes which in turn create habitat for waterfowl by building strategically placed dams (unfortunately not always where people wish to have land flooded). The following photos were taken in Nopiming & Whiteshell Provincial Parks both of which have healthy populations of beavers. The mother and kit were very interesting to watch swimming together and diving down to get plant roots which they bring to the surface to dine on. Beavers played a major role in Canadian history being the subjects of the fur trade era.

Beavers spend a lot of time grooming their fur.

Their way the beaver uses its “hands” to grasp branches or food remind me of the racoon – very nimble.

Below: Beaver dam and lodge. The water level on the high side was about 4 feet higher than the low side . These beavers are master builders!

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Beavers

Sharon — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:03 +0000

The beaver is able to see as well under the water as it can on land and is a graceful and strong swimmer. It builds impressive dams, canals and lodges. A beaver mates for life and the female is the central figure in the family units. Beavers are continually grooming their dense brown fur. The beaver’s teeth continuously grow and they are capable of cutting down very large trees, preferring birch, poplar, trembling aspen and willow. Beavers are a member of the rodent family. A litter of three or four kits is born in May or June. Beavers will slap their large broad tail on the water when alarmed signalling danger. Beavers are most active from dusk till dawn. They make a lot of communication noises and if you are lucky enough to be able to sit and watch them you would be amazed at the loud chewing and grunting sounds they do make. Beavers played an important role in Canadian history during the fur trade era.

The beaver below was standing up on shore pulling down on some branches.

Beaver Swimming . . .

Enjoy

~Sharon