A beaver!
I saw a beaver so I’m writing a whole post about it!
A beaver is swimming in rippling green water with reflections all around them. Just the top half of their head and body is above the water.
The light was pink and warm, reflecting on a darkening green lake. The sun had just set, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get many more good photos, but I was looking for hooded mergansers anyway just to try because I love challenging myself with difficult conditions. I was about to look through my huge lens at a gang of ducks when my partner whispered, “There’s something big in the water. Maybe a muskrat?” That was way more exciting than ducks, so we both looked to see what it could be. It was coming right at us, so it didn’t take long before we both realized it was a beaver!
Neither of us had ever seen a beaver in that lake, so it was a completely enchanting surprise. The beaver swam just under the water with the top half of their head and sometimes their slick furred back just above the water line, their nose making deep ripples in front of them as they glided. I was pretty shocked that they just kept coming our way, but I stood as still as I could, snapping as many pictures as I could!
A beaver is swimming straight at the camera. The water around them is rippling and dark green and black.
When they got really close to the shore, they turned and slapped their tail so hard that the water splashed in a towering spray that seemed as tall as us. The sound was impressively loud, which the internet tells me was the point. My quick research says the tail slap is a way of warning other beavers that something dangerous might be in the area, which I’m assuming was us. That gives me the joyful thought that maybe there was more than one beaver nearby? Look near the splash in the next photo and I’m pretty sure that’s their legs sticking up!
The video was taken on a phone and there’s no sound, but I wanted you to see the slap in action. It happens so fast!
A huge splash in black water. There’s at least one beaver foot sticking straight up in the watery mayhem.
A beaver is swimming away. In their wake is a circle of bubbles in the water.
A beaver swimming in a pond slaps their tail hard with a huge splash.
Just look at that tail!
I cannot contain my excitement at getting a good underwater view of their tail. It’s almost as long and wide as their body! If you look closely, you may be able to see the texture.
A beaver with slicked-back fur swims in green water. Their enormous flat tail is visible just under the surface of the water.
Have you seen a beaver?
Tell me about your beaver sightings in the comments, please! And please share if you know more about that tail slap. What an absolute treat!
Closeup of a beaver’s head as they glide through reflective water. Their whiskers have little droplets of water and their ears are turned back.
In knitting news
If you’re as nerdy about nature as I am, I think you’ll love my latest pattern, A Checklist of Birds. This collaboration between me and Catherine at Gauge Dye Works is inspired by the Victoria Natural History Society’s checklist that shows common bird species in our region and when they’re present throughout the year. Have a look below!
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