A pond appeared where no pond had been behind the home of a friend this spring. How did this come to be? You might ask the beavers—nature’s excellent engineers—for the answer. 

Keep in mind they probably will be too tied up to bother with frivolous talk as their reddish-orange, self-sharpening front teeth tend to be occupied with masterful construction of dams and lodges like the ones depicted here. (There’s good reason why we’re familiar with the phrase, “busy as a beaver.”)

North America’s largest rodent, Castor canadensis, is an aquatic fur-bearing mammal that can be observed throughout the Upper Delaware River region, near wetlands and waterways fringed with forested areas. 

While beavers prefer soft vegetable matter like the leaves, stems and roots of cattails and water lilies, they also eat the bark, twigs and buds of various tree species. When beavers do harvest larger trees, it is often done to gain access to the fresh growth above in the tree canopy. 

Beaver breeding season in our region typically takes place during the first three months of the year, after which a gestation period of approximately 12 weeks leads to the birth of between three and six young. The newborn kits are fully furred, weigh roughly a pound, with eyes open and teeth emerged. Given that it’s now May, perhaps a new litter of kits will soon leave their marks (pun intended) upon this wild place. 

Sandy Long is a poet, writer and photographer whose personal vision is deeply influenced by the natural world. She advocates for the preservation of wild places and natural resources for the benefit of all who derive sustenance from them, whether human, flora or fauna. Long has contributed the River Talk column for nearly 20 years, as well as written news, features and book reviews for the award-winning River Reporter.