It was unavoidable of course. It had to be done.
Lots of beaver news in the world this morning, mostly ripping out dams in Minnesota or 
Peche Island but the most fun beaver news comes from our old friend Patti Smith in Vermont, beloved author of the beavers of Popple’s Pond and friend of this website. If you haven’t read her book yet, you should.
View from Heifer Hill: The seasons of life of a beaver
It is a strange season to be contemplating ecline, but I am doing that too. My pondside companion, Willow the beaver, seems unaware of her diminished status and condition. She looks as content as ever, her big belly against the good warm earth, her eyes closed as she eats. She isn’t concerned that she is blind in one eye.
Over the seven years that I have known this beaver, Willow has outlived three mates. She has helped with the construction of six impressive lodges and seven ponds; she has defended her territory in at least two battles with interloping beavers; she has been wounded by a bobcat in an attempt to protect one of her kits; and she has raised to adulthood at least five kits. While I have lost track of most of her offspring, Ducky, born that first summer, now lives with his mate and two generations of kits on a tributary of this stream. Together these beavers have created and maintain wetland habitat enjoyed by all of the wildlife of this region, from bats to bears.
I love her peaceful appreciative writing and the wonder with which she faces the world. In a time when there are more complaints about beaver than compliments, she remains a breath of fresh air, hopefully inspiring many to look more closely at this remarkable animal. All people need to do is watch, if we can make them do that the beavers themselves will take care of the rest.
Just check out these photos from Rusty at the Napa beaver pond last night!
