---
author: Eric Wagoner
date: '2002-03-19T11:07:53'
draft: false
title: Beavers
---

Chris discovered a [family of beavers](http://sevilleta.unm.edu/data/species/mammal/socorro/profile/american-beaver.html) living on our stretch of the river the other night. We'd thought we'd heard the tell-tale tail slap a few weeks earlier, but I couldn't find any evidence of them -- nibbled trees, cut saplings, a lodge, etc. But she saw them firsthand, and told me about them. She ran to the store for a few things, so I went down to see. As I got to the river, I shut off my flashlight and walked as silently as I could to where she saw them. I guess I was quiet enough, because I kicked one sitting on the shore guarding the group. It was as startled as I was, and it leapt into the river, slapping its tail on the water as it went. Several other splashes followed around me, and when I focused my light in the river, I saw five little heads looking back at me. Three more were on the banks. They swam around for a little while, and then I left them to continue their work. Two of [the beavers'](http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/mammals/rodentia/castoridae/ccanadensis.html) main predators are [the coyote](http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/mammals/carnivora/Canidae/clatrans.html) and [bobcat](http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/mammals/carnivora/Felidae/frufus.html). I've seen bobcat several times on and around our property, and every so often a pack of coyote loudly make their way up and down the river. I guess we've got a complete ecosystem on our little farm. So far our chickens have stayed out of the foodchain.