Over the past year, I have caught a fleeting glance of a beaver at the Marsh, always at a distance, usually just a head moving rapidly through the water, with an occasional long back or flip of the tail. Just a fleeting glance, until one morning recently.
I saw the head moving rapidly along the surface of the water near the shore. Much closer to shore than I have ever seen beavers before. I hiked down onto the beach looking for movement, and there he or she was. In and out of the water, up and over a submerged tree. Then there was a second beaver, entering the water from the beach just around the corner from a small point. And the two of them, swimming in and around. Unless I am mistaken, what followed was beaver mating behaviour, with one swimming up onto the back of the other, and well, doing happens like "Mammals on Animal Planet." I hope I don't have to add a adults only warning to this blog post. It didn't last long, they seemed to like one another afterwards. A google search says that beavers are generally monogamous, and that the kits should be along in about 105 days, usually 2 to 4 in a litter. The nest is clearly visible on a mucky point in the Marsh, a spot inaccessible by foot, you could get close when the water is high in a kayak.
That chance encounter resulted in the best beaver shots I have ever taken. I almost didn't go for a walk that morning, I had started work early, the walk was later than usual. I am so glad I went out.
Well, a google search for beaver mating behaviour, should draw some interesting advertising for me over the next few days.
Your post title got my hopes up. Thanks for nothing.
ReplyDeleteSorry! I was hoping it would grab attention
DeleteI was thinking the same thing, debra!
DeleteHeadlines draw attention
DeleteI too sort of wondered what was about to be......
DeleteThey are very nice and clear beaver photos.
ReplyDeleteI've only recently learnt a bit about beavers from a non professional road drain cleaner. Beavers hate running water and always want to dam it and they live within the dam wall and raise their young there. Not that I really want to see them, but there are no beavers here downunder.
The fur is so soft. You have Kangaroos and other strange wildlife.
DeleteWombats kinda look like big beavers, minus the tail.
DeleteRemember the doorman at the hotel, mistaking Rodney for a beaver -
DeleteI know there are a plethora of crude innuendoes to be made here, but I shall take the higher road and just say I love seeing animals in nature just doing their thing and going about their business. It’s like they almost don’t care that civilization is collapsing around them.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
Www.Idleeyesandadormy.Com
Thank you, it is rare to see one criter, seeing a pair was amazing.
Deletebeavers "doin' what comes naturally"! dam them lil critters (see what I did there?)!
ReplyDeleteOh, oh, oh,
DeleteKits? I thought they were dyke beavers.
ReplyDeleteoh, oh, oh, so many twists to the jokes
DeleteThese are great shots. I'm glad you went out for that walk!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I have seen better photos, but these are the best I have captured of the elusive critter,
DeleteThe title alone is just dripping with double entendres.
ReplyDeleteExcellent nature photographs.
I would have been so good at MAD Magazine
DeleteClick bait! Rodent porn, well, leave it to beaver.
ReplyDeleteI should check traffic and see if hits were up.
Delete