"MOST LIKELY LAST YEAR'S KITS"

Beaver (North American) - 7 Photos

From numerous observations, I've noticed that usually the first beavers to appear from out of their lodges, are the smallest and probably the ones born the year before, so approximately a year old.

Sometimes on their initial forages, they bring back new grasses to the lodge probably for the new kits, disappear & then re-appear to satisfy their own appetites. Then eventually the older beavers appear sometime later, usually at dusk.

The beavers in the photos below were probably born Spring 2025. There were three kits born last year and three beavers surfaced from the lodge, first one solo and then two together. The beaver appearing in Photo #1 through Photo #6 is the smallest and I believe, has the highest "cuteness factor". He/she directed all his/her attention on one particular floating log, stripping the bark to reach the cambium or the soft inner layer of wood. Most of the photos are of this beaver because of his/her closeness to the lodge.

The larger two ventured up a slope from the pond to sample some of the newly arrived thistles (Photo #6) and then climbed back down into the water and swam into a creek where they entered a marsh/pond area (Photo #7). There they remained at least until sunset when I left. I'd like to think these two were under strict orders not to venture out of the water and not go into the adjacent woods, unless accompanied by an older adult. :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7