Not necessarily a great one, I am sorry to say. But outside and investigative, and receptive to the good that is.
Recently I took a walk that included wandering the not yet complete, but fully designated, demarcated, and delineated extension of the local rail trail. At one point along it, it is adjacent to a local brook. The path and brook also, at this juncture, are running alongside a parking lot to a small industrial complex on one side, and a parking and holding lot within a car dealership on the other side. Masking these two businesses from the brook are slender stands of trees–beeches, birches, oaks, and maples, an ash or two, and a willow. At one point, shortly off the cross street by which I entered the trail, I chose to clamber down from the trail to the water’s edge. Imagine my surprise when I saw :
These are the work of very busy, but while I was there, very absent beavers. Should I be delighted? They are doing what they do year in year out, preparing for the winter, building a home that will be warm(ish), dry(ish), and safe(ish). I am delighted. Should I be concerned? (1) They are taking down several of the not-very-many trees that stand between asphalt and water, and since the area is so built up the protections are limited and precious. (But in time some of the trees adjacent will grow and the natural cycle continue.) (2)A darker thought is that some public employee or private one may choose to or be ordered to prevent this lodge and dam complex from being built. The possibility is real: https: //www.mass.gov/service-details/prevent-conflicts-with-beavers
Why do we each take up/use up so much space relative to our individual physical size?
I am thankful for the sun that is goldening the birch leaves in front of me right now. May it, may it.
And, oh, may December bring light.
Thank you for reading.
whereIwonder&why 
From my experience – mostly at the Chelmsford and Carlisle Cranberry Bog Reservations — the knawing at the trees is done to keep the teeth worn down to an acceptable level. Their teeth grow continually, and if they get too long the beaver will be unable to close its mouth and chew and eat! The branches that I have seen moved to clog up a waterway or build a lodge are mostly less that an inch in diameter. So if you want to help the beavers so they don’t have to knaw so much, perhaps you could open a beaver dental clinic where you would grind their teeth down a little once a month!!
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ah ha!! thanks for that information. And suggestion. Perhaps I will bring my rasp to the brook’s edge and offer said services.
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Your photography is excellent. I feel like I am standing there looking with you. It is encouraging that beavers are doing their regular work, as they have in that spot for so long Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
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