My my my. We are getting more curious every day what kind of beaver developments are going on at the little tulle dam next to the footbridge. The purpose of the dam is obviously access to a deeper channel so the beavers can swim in safety to a remaining tulle stand in the corner near the amtrak parkinglot. They have clearly been digging trenches of mud so that the sometimes shallow water would cover them, and using the mud to build the dam-let. I’m happy to see that because when we lowered the dam by three feet I sometimes worried the water wouldn’t be deep enough for them to feel safe or get around. I always hoped they were digging passage ways to make the water deeper, and no one can complain about that.
This new channel is all about tulles and the dam-let protects it. Remember the little hole that dad dug through the birm into the scrape last summer? We never saw it used, but knew it was there for a reason. Now it leads to the dam-let and the channel and the beavers have expanded their territory by several square feet.
Which leaves the mystery of scenting to account for. Now scenting is essential beaver behavior, and the reason for those precious Castoreum glands that the horrible video yesterday showed perfume industries pirating. Scent marks can say “I am here” or “leave me alone” or “can I buy you a leaf?”. On several occasions a large beaver has been seen marking the dam-let as if he’s scenting. We wondered before if this were dad, but now we know it was a yearling engaging in the practice. Maybe he’s “practicing” for when he gets a place of his own. Or helping the family keep unwanted beavers away. Or just imitating what he saw Dad do. But I like to think of it as “pre-mating”. He’s telling the world who he is and what he has to offer, in the hopes of attracting some lucky beaver of his dreams. The imagined other would still need to take off with him in search of new territory, but its much easier to start out adult life with a partner.
Brave souls who can stand the cold might toddle down in the dark for a glimpse of the mystery in progress. Our friend at Allied Waste who wanted to donate blankets to the homeless as a thankyou for “keeping an eye on the beavers” just dropped off a lovely bundle yesterday and Cheryl helped them get distributed. Maybe they’ll share!
