So on Monday I started to share how we spent all of last weekend scrounging through the woods on the tree farm looking for beavers. They’re damaging and flooding out young pine trees–which is the main product on the tree farm. {smile}
But our adventure stopped just short of finding the new beaver hut…
Well, here’s what we found–not just a den, but an entire new ecosystem!
There are three different dams built to create a two-tier pond system.
Of course, Coal the Cattle Dog had to immediately jump in and start swimming around to investigate! In the water he looks amazingly beaver-like. {smile}
We found an additional den site, which is about twice the size of the one further downstream and clearly older. It’s got grass growing on it.
I’m not sure if these pictures can convey the scope of what’s happened here, but this one is pretty good…It’s swimming depth on the high side and knee deep water and mud on the lower side.
We walked all the way around and took a look at all the structures and channels the beavers had put in. It’s amazing that the dam is basically level all the way across and holds the water at an even level along the whole front. The beavers also use their big, flat tails to dig and smooth out stream channels to get water into the pond where they want it.
We took a break for lunch and the kiddos were played out.
The dogs, on the other hand, were having a blast. They’re both really good hikers. The biggest problem being that I can’t keep Coal out of the water, or the mud, or anything else. As long as it’s within a 25 foot radius of where I am, he’s in. {sigh}
Then we got to hike all the way back home, using our own trail markers as guides. (That’s a great way to check your work, by the way!)
The kiddos were totally sacked out by 7:00 pm! The dogs too. {smile}
We’re not quite sure how we’re going to handle the beaver problem just yet. We don’t mind the pond, as long as it doesn’t get much bigger. It’s kinda cool, actually. But we can’t have them eating all the trees up. I guess we’ll have to keep you posted while we figure it out. Just like the disease we found…and the rabbit damage before that…and the vole problem…Always a new adventure at the farm!
How are things at your place? We’re gardening now and I’ll have some pictures to share on Friday of our veggies and our new pallet fence. We’ve also got grass coming in, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see the greening-up snapshots as we go through our days!
If you’re interested in learning more about beavers, here’s some great resources… (I highly recommend the PBS special!) We’ve been reading up like crazy!
Other beaver posts at Walking in High Cotton…
On the Trail of the Beaver, Part 1
On the Trail of the Beaver, Part 2
See where we’re sharing this week….