"MOM ALWAYS DID LOVE YOU BEST"

Beaver (North American) - 8 Photos

Reference: "Mama Needs a Moment" blog (May 7, 2025) and "Take An Awww Moment" blog (May 4, 2025)

The matriarch of this particular beaver family, was back in the network of streams & ponds that empty from their lodge pond. Having done a quick overview of the dams, she had a quick snack before heading to dry land for a time-out (Photo #1).

There were two other beavers swimming in the same area, one slightly larger than the other but both much smaller than the adult. The smaller beaver having grabbed a few leaves from a submerged branch, swam to where his/her mother was relaxing and sat down next to her.

The next five minutes were some of the most tender I've witnessed between two beavers. First Mom slid over & began to groom her youngster's fur (Photo #2 through Photo #4) and then the youngster began to groom Mom (Photo #5). The adult's mammary gland can be seen in Photo #2, which makes this beaver "mother".

And then they slowly parted and sat next to each other for a brief period (Photo #6). 

Eventually, the young beaver went back into the little pond, left Mom (Photo #7) who walked into the woods, harvested a small branch (Photo #8) which she brought back into the water, and swam back to the lodge.

This young beaver is probably just a year old and because of his/her size, the youngest of the kits born Spring 2024. I believe there were three born last year. The largest two generally are seen together. This smaller one appears often with his/her mother, ("Take An Awww Moment"). Perhaps this explains the close attachment of these two, with Mom providing some extra reassurance & confidence bearing in mind there could be newborns back in the lodge.

The term "anthropomorphize" means attributing human qualities to animals and objects. However, recent scientific research is providing evidence that wildlife such as elephants, bison, etc. do, for example, mourn & grieve over their dead companions. As for "joy", I have personally seen beavers diving into a river's current and "surfing", only to exit the river and return to the same point of entry, repeating the exercise again & again. Even beavers just like to have fun. (And I have heard from a number of individuals, including fishermen, who have seen similar activity.)

So perhaps we should evaluate the word "human" in such qualities and emotions. After all, we are all members of the animal kingdom or as defined by Merriam-Webster, "a basic group of natural objects that includes all living & extinct animals".

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8