Beaver Shot

[DizzyDigger]

This old fellow has been visiting the riverbank on the opposite
side of the river from my place. Caught him over there the other
evening, and grabbed the camera for a few shots.

Shot these from our back deck, so the beaver was close to 100 yds.
away. Used my D90 and a 70-300mm Nikon lens, which, when you add
in the "crop factor" is actually more like a 450mm. Still, it was a bit of a
reach for the lens, but I'm happy with the results.

He shows up in the evening, coming from someplace upriver. Usually
he'll hang out in the water for a bit, making sure there's no predators
wandering the beach, then he'll trundle on up the bank, cut himself
some nice, freshly grown branches and trundle on back to the water
to enjoy his supper.

Must have known I was taking his pic, 'cause he stopped and gave
me a nice profile, with smile..

 

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[worldtalker]

I see evidence of them critters around here,be nice to finally see one.


GOD Bless

Chris

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Great nature photo, thank you for sharing.

 

[tamrock]

One of those came darting out of a hole 3 feet in front of me as I was panning on the banks of a river once. It startled the crap out of me as it splashed into the water. My oldest daughter when she was 8 years old, we took a hike along the American river in California and I saw a Beaver. I pointed it out to her and when she saw it her reply was "Wow! that's a fat F*****" I was shocked at what I herd come out of her mouth. She was highly embarrassed at that slip of the tongue and asked I don't tell Mom. I said I have to and I can't believe you'd used that word. She was really sorry and we made no big deal out of it. That's when I learned how the kids in the public schools talk in the 3rd grade in 1987. That's what I remember now every time I see a Beaver. The first time I herd my kid used the F word.

 

[BosnMate]

The only picture I've ever been able to get of a beaver is just part of his head out of the water. Good shot, and the lens seems to work pretty good. Tamrock, in Calif. third grade teachers in public schools probably use that word. If I sound bitter it's probably because I am.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Grant...that's funnier'anell....

Bosn: Anytime you see the evidence of their feeding
in an area, they'll be around soon enough. Early AM
(just after dawn) and late evening are the best times
to catch 'em out on the water.

Back in the trapping days of my 30's I had to do battle with
more than one of these oversized, tree-eating rodents.

I was working full-time, so had to run my traplines after dark,
which usually was no issue, but late this one night I was wading
around the edge of a pond that had -0- bank area. The water
was about an inch shy of the top of my hip waders, which was fine
so long as I watched every step. Water was *maybe* 39F., so getting
wet really wasn't an option.

Finally made it up to one of my beaver sets, and with my flashlight
I saw that the trap was gone. It was a "drowner" set, so whatever
was caught should have been at the bottom of the pond, expired.
Well, I had back-footed a monster of an old beaver, and there he was
swimming around the end of the trap chain, and righteously in a
pissed-off mood!

I'm in the water, he's in the water, there's no where for either one of us to
go, it's pitch black out and he wants to argue..

Never seen a beaver "charge" before, but this one had made an
art of it. He charged at me half a dozen times with those big nasty
teeth just popping away, and at the moment all I had (in hand) to defend
myself was a 3' hickory ax handle. Took that ax handle in both hands
and whacked him over the head as hard as I could, and it didn't even
slow him down...!!!!!

Oh...forgot to mention that I was 20 miles from home, and there
wasn't another soul for 10 miles in any direction. It was a "him
or me" situation, and as much as I hated to poke a hole in that
massive pelt, I finally was able to unzip my coat and reach my
.22 revolver (that never shot in the same place twice..lol). Next
time he charged he got one between the eyes.

End of argument.

He went over 60 lbs., and was the largest blanket beaver
I took that year.

Don't trap anymore, and now have a lot more fun just watchin'
critters.

 

[worldtalker]

I see evidence of them critters around here,be nice to finally see one.


GOD Bless

Chris

Here's the evidence.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Might surprise ya to know that the only reason he's taking that
huge tree down is so he can get to those tender young branches
up top. The fresh growth is like candy to beavers.

 

[worldtalker]

Might surprise ya to know that the only reason he's taking that
huge tree down is so he can get to those tender young branches
up top. The fresh growth is like candy to beavers.

No surprise here..many trees down the meadows like that one.