Author: Rusty Cohn

Probably most accessible Beaver Dam in the world. Surrounded by parking on three sides and literally wheel-chair accessible.

Napa Creek main Beaver Dam looking south towards Kohl’s Department Store and flood bypass tunnels.

Napa Creek main dam being built up

Napa Creek main dam after storms washed most of it away

Napa Creek lower Beaver Dam aprox 100 feet East of the entrance to Kohl’s Department StoreBeaver Kit swimmingBeaver pushing a rock into place on the main damBeaver carrying rock to place on main damYet more rocks being placed on damHard at work placing a branch on the lower damGot to get the rock in just the right placeGiant Blue Heron hanging at the main Beaver pondMore construction materials being brought to the damThree’s companyKingfisher at the main pondBeaver with branch on a log Napa Flood Control placed during bank restoration (notice the bolt on the log)Mom reaching for tasty branch (notice the teats)

Parent with dinner for two hungry kitsGreen Heron at the main pond

Beavers are quite interesting, but the wildlife they bring with them to their ponds is quite something to behold. I was first introduced to Beavers in urban Napa about 5 years ago. While walking over the bridge on Tulocay Creek I saw tree trunks that had been chewed on. Having never seen this before I suspected Beavers but wasn’t sure.

Traffic was heavy so I didn’t check the upstream side of the bridge that day. A few days later I saw my first Beaver Dam and pond. Never would have suspected this could exist next to a hotel and across the street from a car dealer.

Just upstream from the Beaver dam is a very nice Beaver Lodge.

Just behind the Beaver Lodge is the Hawthorne Suites Hotel and their parking lot.Another view of the Beaver Dam with hotel in background.Drone view of the Beaver Pond

Another view of the Beaver Pond looking downstream towards the main dam.

Black Crowned Night Heron with Beaver swimming in background

Deer climbing over the Beaver Dam heading downstream under the bridge.Giant Blue Heron in the pondMink swimming in the pondBeaver eating horsetail which helps with lactation.River Otter watching us.To be continued …

Some oldies but goodies from Napa urban Beaver pond

Kit eating LudwigiaBig stretch for blackberry branches/leavesMuskrat taking food/bedding back to Beaver lodge where it livesBlack Crowned Heron with mealRiver Otter pups Western Pond Turtles

I have been attempting to get photos of Beavers interacting with each other. In the early evening when there is still light it seems the Beavers like to swim upstream alone and go to an upper pond where there is more brush and they can stay out of sight for the most part. As summer approaches I have noticed a slight change in behavior as grass has grown abundantly along the bank of the main pond close to their lodge. Lately I usually find at least one Beaver happily eating grass and waiting to see if others will join in.

I have noticed two kits seem to come out a little earlier than the others and occasionally eat together along the grassy area on the bank.

This is a fairly common scene of two Beavers eating together. (above)

One of the kits seemed playful and wanted to wrestle.

This seems to be a rare activity to observe as I have only seen such wrestling a couple of times in two years of watching this colony.

New festival promo from Sarah!

Martinez Beaver Festival Promo 2016 from Tensegrity Productions on Vimeo.

 

One evening at the Tulocay Creek Beaver pond in Napa a Beaver seemed entranced with eating the grass and ignored me, and almost appeared to want to do a modeling photo shoot.

On my way to leave a Muskrat decided to grab a bunch of leaves from the top of the main Beaver Dam. Usually the Muskrats eat grass.