magickcanoe.com Blog

Yesterday, I spent a few minutes sitting on a steep section of shoreline, watching two Beaver paddling back and forth in open water at the fringe of an ice-covered lake. They were carrying sticks to what looked to be the beginning of a lodge in the sheltered notch of a small bay. Gliding smoothly, leaving their V-shaped wakes in the clear, cold water, they paid me little attention after a couple of passes to get a closer view. They worked diligently, making multiple trips to collect sticks. In response to the loud clap of falling planks at a distant cottage, one of the Beaver slapped its tail with a sharp crack like a gunshot before diving for a good half minute. Several times, they left the water to waddle a short ways onto the shore to pick up previously gnawed sticks. When moving about on land, they look like small people, hunched as they slowly lumber along. I am reminded of Grey Owl’s (Archie Belaney’s) little people.

Once in the water, Beaver are in their true element. A few times over the years, a beaver has dived under my canoe while I drifted in the still, clear waters of late autumn. Small ears pressed closed, dark body and tail undulating, they are fluid as quicksilver. When passing beneath my canoe, thousands of tiny air bubbles streamed out of their thick, rich fur, leaving an effervescent trail.

More info on the Beaver from the Canadian Wildlife Service’s Hinterland Who’s Who page on Beaver.

Tags: Beaver, Castor canadensis