Calling Cards and Big Flat Tails

Beaver made a trail along which he could
slide his sapling branches, right beside the
cottage!

Thomas came out of Lantern cottage, and was stopped in his tracks by movement in the tall grass -- and was doubly stopped when up came the head of a beaver.

The two looked at each other for a few moments, and then Beaver headed for the lake.

neatly nipped off saplings...

Thomas disturbed Beav before he
got this section of sapling all the way
to the lake. He came back for it though,
later

He left behind his calling card -- he had cut down several small saplings right beside the deck of the cottage!  And he had dragged them beside the deck to get them down to the lake, where he had stashed them under the dock, saving a snack for later!

Thomas tells us he has named the critter "Justin Beaver" -- we're not sure if that is a compliment to the Beaver, actually... but it works.




We think this is a very young beaver -- his messy food stash under the dock is a clue...






Our cousin Robin Tapley captured a wonderful photo of just how happy beavers can be when they have poplar leaves and bark to munch on!