Monday, December 19, 2011

Beavers/ Our World

 Two adult beavers chowing down

One of my goals this year was to photograph a beaver in the wild.  Spring, summer and fall,  my husband and I saw beaver lodges but no beavers. Well, not quite true. One evening I saw a beaver but it saw me before I could click the shutter.

With less than two weeks till the end of 2011, my mission was a failure until...

 One adult walked out onto thin ice and then dove in.

last Saturday when we spotted what looked like an active lodge.  My husband spotted one beaver. YAY!

Then I saw TWO! They were at the edge of their lodge eating "yummy" branches. I think their meal must have tasted great because we could hear the beavers crunching the wood and bark.

Adult checking up on its kit

After a few minutes, one beaver shopped munching and headed out for a swim. Brrr. It must have heard its kit surface in a water hole in the ice a few feet away. Then a second kit appeared. And a third.

Adult and three kits swimming in a pool surrounded by ice

So not only had a I seen a beaver in the wild...but I got to see and photograph five of them!

My next goal is to get a great closeup.  And now I know where to look.

Click HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.
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62 comments:

  1. Tanya BreeseDecember 19, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    how awesome is that?!! those are the most adorable pics, so glad you were at the right place/time!

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  2. Judy December 19, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    We used to see the beaver lodges back in Illinois on the river, but never any beavers. Wonderful captures!

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  3. KateDecember 19, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    What a thrill. Seeing animals in the wild is becoming more rare each day but you got a bonus with this group. Great photos and lovely story of tenacity and will, both on your part and the beavers' !!

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  4. RoanDecember 19, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    How cool is that? Goal completed.

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  5. JillDecember 19, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Patience really is a virtue! These are wonderful photos. So glad you got your wish.

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  6. MildredDecember 19, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Wow! Great captures! Lucky you!
    Thanks for sharing;o)

    ***
    Happy week****

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  7. Tina´s PicStoryDecember 19, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    wonderful pics! have a great week :)

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  8. Penelope NotesDecember 19, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    Now this is what I call a beaver bonanza … they are not easy to spot although they certainly leave signs of their existence when they chomp their way though the wild. :)

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  9. LowellDecember 19, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    This is absolutely amazing...in my whole long life (no comment, please!) I've never seen a beaver in the wild, much less five of them. And your photos are wonderful! Really exciting!

    Re your question on Stone Creek: I think those are roses. Or they could be azaleas. I know there are lots of small rose bushes all over the place, but we had azalea blooms at Christmas at our place in Ocala...I'll check the next time we go by - which may be later today when Lois goes running.

    It's freezing here this morning - like 48!

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  10. MadSnapperDecember 19, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    amazing amazing amazing, i love this. i have never seen one any where or seen their lodges other than in movies. i am sooooo jealous.

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  11. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    They are certainly busy, beavering away. Great stuff!

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  12. DarlaDecember 19, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Amazing photographs. I'll bet you were quite excited to see them.

    Darla

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  13. Lois EvensenDecember 19, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    How neat! You saw and photographed the whole family. :)

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  14. KathyDecember 19, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Congratulations! You hit the jackpot! Great pics.

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  15. LornaDecember 19, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    "my next goal is to get a great closeup"...that made me laugh. I can practically count their eyelashes.

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  16. ShammickiteDecember 19, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Lucky you! You were in the right place at the right time. I've seen a beaver swimming at the reservoir in Stouffville but they don't stay around long enough to be photographed. Camera shy I guess.

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  17. kayerjDecember 19, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I love this series of shots, what a find.

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  18. JudyDecember 19, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    You got some good pictures of the beaver family. Good work!

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  19. TexWisGirlDecember 19, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    wow! you need to set goals for yourself more often! you outdid yourself! :)

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  20. MalyssDecember 19, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Great catch! they're funny to observe, I guess! and so pretty!

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  21. CameraCruiseDecember 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    Wow, great captures!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  22. John @ Beans and I on the LooseDecember 19, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    That is great! What a wonderful experience one that someday I wish I could have. I am still looking for my first Bobcat yet. So many challenges. Well done.

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  23. cieldequimperDecember 19, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    They are making me hungry! Lovely shots!

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  24. Sylvia KDecember 19, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Oh, Hooray!! You've made my day! I love your terrific captures!! You surely outdid yourself this time!! Hope you have a great week! Happy Holidays!!

    Sylvia

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  25. RedPatDecember 19, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    Wow - a whole family!! I have never seen one in the wild.

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  26. GeorgeDecember 19, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    Congratulations on meeting your goal in such an impressive fashion.I think all of these photos are wonderful, especially that last one. Very well done!

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  27. MadSnapperDecember 19, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    the old truck is parked in front of the antique store, as and ad we think.

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  28. LalockertDecember 19, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    wow, that is so cool! Greetings from Norway :)

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  29. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Oh wow what great photos! Amazing creatures, aren't they?

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  30. VioletSkyDecember 19, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    That is so cool!!
    I have pics of one beaver but we were so far away from each other I wasn't even sure what I was photographing until I got home and enlarged the photos.

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  31. Reader WilDecember 19, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    Lucky you! I wish we could see them in our country too. I know at least one place where beavers live, but that is only a small area and the chance to see them is very small.

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  32. CarverDecember 19, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    You did a great job photographing the busy beaver's at the year end.

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  33. Gemma WisemanDecember 19, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Such an exciting experience! O wow! Love these photos! And the kits look so adorable peeking up from the water!

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  34. DianneDecember 19, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Wonderful pics - and now you've shared them with us and that's so special - Mission accomplished!

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  35. Kay L. DaviesDecember 19, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Absolutely the all-time Canadian photographic obsession, to get good shots of our elusive national animal. I've never managed it yet, but I have hopes. In the meantime, I am enjoying yours.
    Two adults and three kits! Spectacular! I'm so happy for you.
    Christmas and the new year might pale after this, but I wish you all the best, nevertheless.
    (PS: Did I say I love your photos?)
    K

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  36. Melbourne Australia PhotosDecember 19, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    How wonderful! Your perseverance was rewarded with excellent photos. It is lovely to see these animals in the wild.

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  37. Martha ZDecember 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    When we first moved here we often saw beaver in the streams and ponds. Now they trap and relocate them so it is a treat when I see one.

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  38. B i r g i t t aDecember 19, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    How lucky you are to have cought these interesting animals in picture :)
    I would like too :)

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  39. eileeninmdDecember 19, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Cool photos of the beaver, I usually see them seimming in the water. It is great you caught them out of the water. Great captures, I hope you have a happy holiday!

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  40. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Oh, man! That is totally cool! How wonderful for you to be treated to such a show and in turn, treat us as well! These photos are awesome! I can't wait to see more from your next adventure!

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  41. EllieDecember 19, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    Wow, what a great set of pictures. You were so lucky to see them. We ae lucky too because you shared them with us. :))

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  42. ViolaDecember 19, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Oh you lucky..! I'm almost jealous ;) How great pictures you've got of them! =) I just love every single!

    It's a long time since my boyfriend and I saw beavers.. we did one year.. But not any good pictures.. It's a long long time since we last were by that water in the forest, so... I just get to wonder.. if they still are there or not..

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  43. JackDecember 19, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    Three cheers for you, EG. Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  44. AnonymousDecember 19, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    Thank you SOOO much for sharing -- I am happy for you in reaching your goal (and mildly envious -- maybe some of your luck will rub off on us when we're back in the Northwest next summer.) (I don't have much hope while we're here in Florida ;>)

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  45. GigaDecember 19, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    Ale miałaś szczęście, ale nie tylko, bo kto szuka ten znajdzie :-). Miło było Tobie na nie patrzeć, ale i nam dzięki Twoim cudnym zdjęciom. Pozdrawiam

    But you were lucky, but not only, because he who seeks shall find :-). It was nice to look at you, but to us through your photos cudnym. Yours

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  46. lotusleafDecember 19, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    Wow! Congratulations ! The pictures are stunning. I am looking forward to more beaver pictures from you!

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  47. RandyDecember 19, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    Hard at work and so cute.

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  48. Gillian OlsonDecember 19, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    Great pictures and lucky too! I have seen lots of evidence of beaver here but have yet to see them. Thanks for these shots.

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  49. AnonymousDecember 20, 2011 at 12:39 AM

    Wow - what sweet faces. Great shots!

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  50. JamaDecember 20, 2011 at 12:53 AM

    The pictures are awesome!

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  51. IndraniDecember 20, 2011 at 1:19 AM

    Lovely captures of the architects in the wild.

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  52. PondsideDecember 20, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    What great shots - and what a thrill to see so many in the wild.

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  53. BirgittaDecember 20, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    Stunning photos!

    http://blogg.birgittasplace.com/

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  54. AnonymousDecember 20, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    Lucky you! thoroughly enjoyed going through your photos!! All the best with the close shots!

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  55. ArijaDecember 20, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    Wow! Fantastic captures. Well, as they say good things come to he who waits, even if it almost took a whole year.

    Now you can definitely enjoy Christmas, have a very merry one.

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  56. JudyDecember 20, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    What can I say! You set a goal and then you come through, magnificently!! We have beaver around here, but they are livetrapped and moved further into the country... I could show you lots of lodges, and a couple of dams, though!

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  57. Crafty Green PoetDecember 20, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    what lovely shots! It's wonderful that they all appeared for you like that...

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  58. MarkDecember 20, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Oh that is just wonderful. Great shots!

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  59. VPDecember 20, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Glad you 'got' them: these pictures are so beautiful and the beaver quite at ease and going on with their work!

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  60. Frostbite and SunburnDecember 20, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Fabulous - how lucky to get such shots - have a great Tuesday!

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  61. Suburban GirlDecember 20, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Wow, I've never seen a beaver!

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  62. RoseDecember 20, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    These are great--I have only seen beaver a couple times this past year that I remember. Previously, every time I was out at the strip pit, I saw beaver. I do not know what happened...

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