"SHAKE IT ALL OUT"

Beaver (North American) - 4 Photos

Most of us have probably seen dogs do it - that shake or oscillation of their bodies to shed water droplets after a bath or a swim. Bears do it as well and I have been fortunate to see a mink do the "water shed".

I've now seen beavers shed the water from their fur as they exit a pond or stream, particularly since the colder weather has arrived. And finally, the camera has captured those brief few seconds (Photo #1 through Photo #4). 

A beaver's fur consists of short fine hairs for warmth & longer hairs for waterproofing. They need to groom their fur daily with the oily secretion from their castor gland to keep it waterproof. All that waterproofing may explain why their "water shed" is so quick. 

This young beaver had followed its older sibling under the ice shelf from the lodge to re-surface into open water. First it removed that excess water with the "shake, rattle & roll" before continuing on to more pressing beaver business, such as assisting in the harvesting of some fresh branches & trees.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4