Beaver Den

A couple of years ago we noticed that our cottonwoods were being cut down. The stumps left behind were like pencils, and when we'd go out in the morning to feed the animals, new sapplings would be laying across the canal.

At first it was exciting, but soon we'd lose a couple of trees a night. In the early morning dark, the beavers would hear us coming and slap the water to scare us off. We knew they couldn't stay and the water would be gone soon anyway. Our neighbor Arn is interested in the mountain man era. He has traps, buckskins, and has assisted his wife in delivering all of their eight children at home. He's made each child a pair of moccasins when they were born. He and his children trapped the beavers and prepared their hides to make more boots and gloves.

As we began clearing downed limbs and trees along the creek, we added to a clubhouse neighbor kids had made. We call this the Beaver Den, but it is large enough for people to hide inside. The Beaver Den makes good cover for birds and sits at the edge of what will become a creek-fed pond.