• Tuesday-What'sUP December 12 - 11:45 am

I was excited to receive today's photos of a busy beaver from Brenda Leigh, as I've often see photos of beaver dams, but hadn't seen any of the beaver actually right there. Also exciting to me, was the narrative Brenda sent along of her adventure. I'll turn the notes over to her for the "rest of the story":

Jim and I were driving the backroads in the snow the other day, when we came across a funny trail across the road...at first I thought porcupine. Anyway I stopped the jeep, shut it off and about twenty feet in the woods on this trail I saw something big and black coming down that trail. I was shocked as it got closer ...it was a huge beaver. I could not believe the speed at which is was trekking. I never knew they moved that fast. They drag that big black tail but can they move. Of course my camera was beside me, but in the case and I couldn't get it out quick enough to get a real good shot of it.

So, I got out and followed the trail. It led me to his hole which he dove into. He actually had two holes, one he used to enter the water and then the other he was using for his work area. I was shocked to see where the ice had frozen over and then he broke it and there were large pieces laying along side the entry hole. It is something one does not think of when the concept 'busy as a beaver' comes to mind. You know you just imagine him chewing on trees and not having the job of an ice breaker, too.

It was so exciting to see the beaver and his art work, too.

Good morning All!

Busy as a beaver, Wally.

Nice pics!

That's not a bad idea Brenda has there; maybe the Coast Guard should ponder mounting a large set of mechanical beaver teeth to the front of the Mackinaw for ice-breaking purposes..... ;-)

WAY cool....it's awesome to see nature at work, eh!!

Oh what great photos. It really is not easy to catch pics of the beavers themselves. They are so reclusive .

Neat shots, Brenda! I've never seen a 'beaver at work' but have seen the results of its tree-gnawing in N.D. With that kind of 'dental power', sure wouldn't want to be bitten by one. OUCH!

Very nice, as always, Brenda!!!

the critters seem to work year round.

Great detective work, Brenda. Splendid pictures too of my all time
favorite animal.

Leave It To Beaver

Good timing on your pictures of the Beaver, and thanks for sharing your adventure with us!

Phenomenal pics, Brenda!

I have a favorite walking stick that was "custom made" by the beavers on my land. Just the right size and weight, and I preserved the little tooth marks to remind me of its makers.

Our office used to be on Big Beaver Road, in Troy, MI. One time a female tax software tech asked me why it was called "Big" Beaver and I really didn't know. Do any Michiganders know why?

Beavers are amazing. When I started Tech in 65 my Mechanical Department professor had a beaver skull on his desk. When I asked about it he said that Tech was investigating wood chipper blade angles and had tested many angles of the cutting edge for the best efficiency.
Low and behold the angle they can up with for the best one was the same as the beaver tooth cutting edge angle. Isn't that something!

It certainly is, Wvyooper.

Guess that shows that the Creator of the beaver knew the best way to design it!

Isn't that the truth, jbuck!!