Beaver Family 001

A family of beavers has taken up residency within the Grand Marais harbor. They built their stick and mud hut on the inside of the break wall close to the Border Patrol office. It is really fun to watch them in the evenings.

Beaver Family 002

In the clear water of Lake Superior at times they can be seen swimming underwater. Here you can see one of the babies back webbed feet.

Beaver Family 003

Karla and I have gone several times to take photos and watch them feed. The family consists of the mom, dad and three babies. The babies are growing fast. They have started to collect a food pile in preparation for the winter. Here is one of the babies.

Beaver Family 004

Here is the largest adult and one baby.

Beaver Family 005

Once in a while they crawl up on the land, cut down alder brush and then drag it to the lodge to feed the kids. After leaving the branches by the lodge they dive down and go into the lodge to get the babies. The beaver can be heard talking in the lodge and soon all five are out feeding on the branches.

Beaver Family 006

One evening the largest beaver pulled a branch across the water. A young mallard started to follow the beaver. It kept swimming closer and closer until it was right over the beaver’s tail. The ducks feet apparently touched the beaver’s tail as up came the tail and slapped the water. What was so funny is as the tail came up it catapulted the duckling into the air. The mallard landed on the shore and quacked at the beaver for at least fifteen minutes. He was very mad. It happened so fast that I never got a picture. I wish I could have got a photo of the duck fling.

Beaver Family 007

The beaver use their front feet like hands. Their long toes look just like fingers and are able to turn a tiny branch in a circle as they feed on it. They remind me of gorilla fingers.

Beaver Family 008

In this photo you can see the adult’s huge teeth that are used to cut down trees.