ASTOR’S GHOST MEETS WORTH A DAM

This morning’s special treat comes from Nancy May of Mackinac Island in Michigan. If the place sounds familiar it should. It was the location of John Jacob Astor’s beaver fur industry and ran the market for a hundred years.. When beavers reappeared on the island no one had seen them for 200 years. Nancy contacted me a while ago about the local beavers she had been observing and protecting.. She put together and account and some photos of the story and I knew you’d be interested

Here with her permission is her story.

About 7 years ago, a young beaver couple came to the shores of Mackinac Island and built a lodge just feet from land in what is called “the Cove”- which was in the shape of a “C”. The opening (to Lake Huron) had only about 2 feet of water covering the barrier which made it seem more like a pond. Even so, it was an unlikely place for beavers to establish a home, so close to shore and in a populated area at the edge of town- but they did and I, for one, was delighted.

 

In 1701, a fur trading post was established on Mackinac Island. The famous John Jacob Astor established his company on the Island in 1809. By the mid-1800’s, these industrious animals had been trapped to near extinction. They have started to “come back” in recent years and so many felt lucky that this beaver couple had chosen Mackinac for it’s home.

About 4 years ago, I began to photograph them. They quickly became accustomed to my presence and tolerated my photographic efforts. It was absolutely fascinating to watch them, especially with their kits, and over the years, they became famous; an attraction, really. Some times, 20 to 30 tourists would gather at the site in the evenings, hoping for a glimpse of them.  If they were “out”, they would swim a circle in the cove, taking in their admirers . I only witnessed tail-slapping when people let their dogs get too close. Otherwise, they would swim about the cove, curious as to why all these people were looking at them.

Last summer, Mom and Dad Beaver had 4 kits that appeared to the world at about 6 weeks old. It was early July and I was totally involved with them at this point. I photographed them 2-3 times a week and got to know the difference between the kits. A friend, who often visited them with me, named them all one night: Poppy, Willow, Maple and Birch. From that day on, we watched them grow, observed behavior, and delighted in their antics; their personalities became clearer and clearer! People came daily to view them: some left carrots, apples or branches for them; some came to torment them and others to teach their children about wildlife. People from all over the country viewed posts about them on our local blog.

Autumn came and with it, a terrible storm that took out half of their lodge in late October. We were all devastated. Winter was coming…… Our Mayor sent down a dray-load of fresh tree cuttings and in two days, the lodge was restored, complete with a long “pantry” that extended out from the lodge about 15 feet. Normal activity resumed.

The winter of ’17-‘18 was brutal. Not much snow but extreme cold and wind. Ice made in the cove, broke up, moved out then froze again. The process repeated itself until there was ice as far as one could see, both in the cove and into the Straits. Then, in mid-winter, gale-force winds blew for 3 days. The ice broke up and the east wind drove 3’ thick icebergs into the cove and piled them on end up against the lodge. They were on the bottom. The beavers couldn’t get out ofthe lodge! I called friends for help and 6 of us attacked the ice with assorted tools and succeeded in clearing an opening next to the lodge. Later in the day, fresh branches were delivered along with apples, and at about 5 pm they popped up. We were overjoyed; they probably would have perished had we not helped. EVERYONE needs a “hand up” at times!!! The remainder of the winter was just bitter…I had to spud out the hole each morning for them (new ice daily) and often delivered branches, carrots or apples. Their “pantry” was long gone and still, winter persisted.

Finally, spring arrived. The family was again free to roam the shoreline and I was pleased to note that all 4 kits survived the winter. But the euphoria didn’t last long for those of us who loved the beavers. In May, a very pregnant Mom, disappeared. At first I thought she was just having her kits…but then realized that Dad wasn’t around either and he should have been visible taking branches to her. Then, one-by-one, the kits began to disappear. Lots of people commented that they had just probably moved on- but at this point, I knew enough about their behavior to know that one-year-olds don’t leave the colony; and that a pregnant Mom doesn’t just decide to leave and start a new lodge elsewhere, especially without taking her family along! Worry set in. They were all gone by early August and I am sure that they have been trapped and killed illegally. (Trapping and using firearms is prohibited at all times on the Island except by special permits.) None applied for.

Finally, I must add that I am aware that all people don’t feel as I do. To many, they are a nuisance. But a simple solution here is to wrap your trees with chicken wire if you live on the shoreline. It’s cheap and a few minutes of your time. My posts years ago suggested this solution if people were having a problem on their property. I am saddened, as are so many here, by their absence. The community has been robbed of this family, stolen without permission; a family who taught many so much about particular behavior of an animal most have never seen up-close, and about wildlife in general. Because of the high water, the cove has become “open water” and another family is unlikely to make it home. A pair of muskrats has taken over the lodge ( they often roomed with the beavers on cold nights) but they will miss the warmth of the beavers come winter!

And so will I.

Oh Nancy what a lovely story. We share your heartbreak about your missing beavers. But we are not without hope. Our decade with beavers has taught us to take the long view. Beavers stories don’t have ends. They have chapters. Thank you so much for sharing yours with us.