A couple of weeks ago, I diverged from my regular rounds along the Monocacy and came upon a young tree trunk that looked as if it had been hewn by a wood-carver.
I took note and walked a little farther along to find another tree that had been similarly cut. Now strongly suspicious, I stepped a little closer to the steep riverbank, scanned the waters, and found what I expected: a dam.
Such logjams are not uncommon. They occur naturally after flood waters push down and collect fallen trees, branches, leaves and other debris (i.e. trash) against obstructions in the river, such as boulders, bridges, or small islands. I had a feeling that in this case I was seeing the work of another river dweller, one of earth’s largest rodents, the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). Just to be sure, I revisited the area yesterday and found that even more trees had been felled.
While I would very much like to meet the beavers, I’ve a feeling that they’d prefer to avoid me (I live in Maryland, after all, not Narnia), so I had to make due with knowing that they were nearby and looking about their home. Unfortunately, the light was horrible, flat and almost numbing, so I had to play a little with the paltry light meter on my phone when I tried to photograph these industrious beavers’ environment. None of the results are accurate.
Besides frustrating myself with my limited camera, I managed to gather an overflowing bagful of trash, some of it unusual (the foam from a bike seat!). I don’t usually get noticed, but today a man observed me and remarked that I had an impossible job. “Just a little bit every day,” I answered. He just kept walking.
TRASH ON THE MONOCACY 
Trust me, you don’t want to meet a beaver.
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It sounds as if you know this from experience. Warning noted.
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They must stand on each other’s shoulders to chew so high on the tree. 🙂
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Now that’s something I’d really like to see!
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What remarkable tree-fellers. I would love to see a beaver. There are none in New Zealand and their import is strictly forbidden, even by zoos. That’s because of the risk they’d present to our native forests, which evolved without them. However, I admire their industry in their home territory.
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You have your own remarkable wildlife. I’ve been to New Zealand once (17 years ago now!), and I’d love to go back.
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Thanks for picking up trash.
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You’re welcome! Thanks for the thanks.
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We have beavers working away down the street at the big park on the lake. They’ve taken down so many trees this winter and have constructed a huge lodge in the yacht club harbour.
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And I’m guessing that they haven’t paid their dues at the club?
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ha! In spite of a yacht club in the middle of it, there is quite a bit of wildlife in the park, including coyotes.
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Next time someone references the futility of the wonderful work you are doing, tell the story of the old man and the hermit crabs. When a child asks the old man how he can possibly save all of the hermit crabs stranded during high tide, the old man picks one up and tosses it into the surf, replying, “saved that one.”
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