Now that was priceless and sadly uncaptured by film. Tonight’s beaver viewing saw a cluster of people and rodents: beavers, muskrats, and possibly woodrats or the more mundane variety. There was too much to watch in every direction, and we had to work stations and call out action. One performance topped them all and that was by our smallest kit, who continues to adore blackberries. There are other, easier and less prickly foods to eat, but he has always gone out of his way to seek them out. Tonight he clambered high up onto the steep bank for a munch, giving everyone on the bridge a prime look at his body and tail. This was the kit featured in this video for obvious reasons. After all this time, he hasn’t grown out of his affections.
[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=4qqLIjK1diM]
When Mary Tappel was here she talked about blackberries not being nutritious and a food of desperation and last resport, yet this particular kit has always had what appears to be a sweet tooth for them, regardless of what other treats were available. Skip Lisle has argued that fruit is an entirely natural part of their diet, and it certainly appears to be on this beavers favorites. Tonight in particular he laboriously climbed three feet up the bank into a huge bush while we all watched. There he gnawed off a tastey branch and tugged away, pulling and pulling until he lost his footing and fell backwards…..ohhh….
SPLASH!!!
into the water three feet below. He bellyflopped gracelessly for our amusement. He wasn’t hurt a bit, just his beaver pride I imagine. It took him a while to show his furry face again, and I’m sure when he did he was muttering the beaver equivalent of “I meant to do that”. After a little paddle around the pond he went straight back and tried it again.
You really shoulda been there.
