Last night a few old timers stood on the bridge and watched one of this year’s kits enjoying a treat. S/he was actually fairly picturesque, hands raised, face up, and expression of almost teddybear adorableness. One of the yearlings snuffled up for a taste and the size difference was substantial. We had been bemoaning how “big they’d gotten”, thinking about the little beaver bundles we use to have back in July. Then we saw big brother and went OHHHHHHHHHHHHH they’re still little!
I describe the idyllic appearance of the little kit in order to set the contrast for little monster behavior that follows. When big brother, who was 30 lbs heavier and 2 feet longer, appeared to be approaching the treat, the little beaver diva SNAPPED and chased him away, as siblings have done since the beginning of reproduction. This is MY treat!
Big brother obligingly dove under the water. At first we thought to escape the diva, but then we observed he came back with a nicely preserved willow branch. They must have an underwater food cache in the vicinity. And as the diva beaver watched his sibling carry away something much more desireable than he’d prevented him from having you could almost hear the rivalry:
“Mom always liked you best!”
[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=cTdZ71scwik]
