Wildlife wonderment

[reible]

I've been know to write stories of actual events that I witness for my grandchildren, we have 10 of them and while some are to young to understand this story we do have plenty that will.

I've also shared these stores on occasion here. So here is one such story.


It was Sunday November 8 in the year of 2015 when this story happened, “it be true and honest”.

Our plans for the afternoon were to pick up a few items at the Menard's store then drop off some wood at my son's house before taking a walk in the early November afternoon sun on this Sunday. I had thought that a walk at a place called Harris Forest Preserve would be just the place to commune with nature, get some exercise and perhaps even get a few interesting pictures. So that is was how I answered my son when he asked where we were going.

Along the way for some reason I felt I'd rather go and walk along the Fox River where highway 25 tracks the river between Oswego and Montgomery. This is a favorite spot in the winter for Eagle sightings as well as waterfowl but it was bit early for those sorts of sightings.

The warm sun felt good on our backs as we walked north, the river on the left and the roadway to the right. It had just broken 50 degrees but the wind was light so it felt like a good day for a hike. I began my usual routine of snapping pictures starting with some oak leaves against the pale blue sky. Yes it was going to be a good day for pictures.

As we walked I remarked to my wife that there was some fresh beaver chewed trees along the way. One such tree had been a nice shade spot in the hot summer, the setting had included a bench with a view and waste container . The tree lay partially in the river and freshly cut. I snapped a picture.

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As we got closer I could see that there was something at the base of the tree. Can you see the beaver?

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Maybe I can help you.

can you spot the beaver.jpg (264.53 KiB) Viewed 1573 times

As I got much closer the form changed from a blob of something to a beaver. Now in nature you never get as close as I was to the beaver unless something is up. At first I thought perhaps the beaver was dead, that was until I could see its eyes following me. Now beavers have small beady eyes and the fact I could see them and watch them meant I was really close.

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I then saw it move its head. I backed away as it was certainly alive and I wasn't interested in getting in a foot race or seeing how hard a beaver can bite. It didn't move from where it was so my next thought was that perhaps something was wrong with it. Could a car have hit it? Could someone have shot it? Perhaps old age was catching up with it and perhaps this was a good day to die?

This was a mature animal, now I haven't been that in touch with beavers since back in my high school where I would get to see what my uncle trapped. Now that was a lot of years ago but still I would have to believe this was a full grown, large, beaver and I would guess that it weighted in at 55 or 60 pounds or perhaps more.

While I pondered these thoughts we decided to move on and let it do what ever it was doing in peace. We also worried that it was suffering and started to be concerned about that, who does one call for a beaver emergency??

We stopped to take a shadow selfie.

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On our return it was still there where it had been. Since it had shown no hostility I returned for a better look. Something was definitely wrong but what. As I went towards the rear of the animal it did not even attempt to turn. This is not how animals behave in nature. As I got around to the back I could only see a short section of tail exposed. The rest I couldn't see but I could also knew it was unlikely this was a short tailed beaver. As I got in closer I then saw that the tail was under a side branch from the fallen tree. The tree had fallen on the beavers tail and it was trapped there. That is also why it could not turn or even stand upright.

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Since this was in the afternoon it was likely that it had been trapped for hours. Likely sometime the night before is when this happened and now in a weaken state the beaver was too tired to struggle and wouldn't or couldn't free itself. Not being able to turn it couldn't even attempt to dig its tail out.

We still had no idea who to call or how to explain where this was and even if we did call. Would there be any response on a Sunday afternoon? Thinking the beaver isn't going to survive the night could a rescue happen before it was dead and this would it be a body recovery effort. In the winter we often see fox tacks along here so there was that danger as well. Now I know a fox wouldn't attempt to deal with a beaver normally but in this case it would not surprise me to have such a thing happen.

My wife and I decided I would attempt to lift the tree and hope the beaver would not take a chunk out of my leg if and when it got free. Now I don't have a good back so my first attempt I couldn't move much of the tree. I would have to get my shoulder under it and lift with my legs but it was also clear it was unlikely I was going to be able to do this on my own.

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So we planned for a second attempt, me in a lower position and with my wife helping we gave it a heave and the tree moved enough for the beaver to pull itself free. It took 3 or 4 steps and stopped and looked at us. While it was only seconds it seemed longer. We were not sure if it wanted to thank us or to take a chunk of leg. With that pause over it wondered off and into the river. I certain hope it survived and when home with a good story to tell.

Here you can see the place where the tail was trapped.

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After that the colors even seemed brighter, perhaps a redder shade of red.

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It isn't often this sort of things happens but it felt good to have helped out a fellow woodworker.

And so it was.

[moose]

Great Story Ed. Thanks for posting. It made my day.

[Bruce]

It's good to hear stories like that. We need to be sure to pass on our respect for nature's creatures and beauty to our youth.

[charlese]

Thanks for sharing your great story, ED! Once again, your photo skills are outstanding and your adventures with wildlife exceptional!!

Even men (tree fallers) sometimes have similar problems. But they don't have tails. Only legs and arms.

[algale]

Great story, great picks, Ed.

[Gene Howe]

That was a wonderful story, Ed. You might say it was a great tale.

[Ed in Tampa]

Thanks for the wonderful story. I really enjoyed reading it!

[ERLover]

Nice!!! From what I know about beavers, that is a occupational hazard for them, many die from falling trees, most cut them almost ready to fall and then leave and let the wind finish the job for them.

[edflorence]

wow...amazing story. thanks for sharing. Beautiful pictures, too.