Leave it to a Beaver...
Ahhh, small town living! You know you live in a small town when your fb page is blown up with posts on how a beaver is crossing the bridge and a teenage girl is walking behind it trying to make sure it gets across safely.And here I am, trying to spot a beaver to take a photo in it's natural habitat, and the darn thing is on the bridge. No, I did not drive to the bridge to take a photo, as I figured there was enough congestion there as it was and I don't consider the bridge it's natural habitat.
Here he is, on the bridge (I didn't take this photo).
Normally, if a beaver was walking on a sidewalk across the bridge, it wouldn't be a really big deal. But, there's no sidewalks on the bridge. Where you see the beaver near the narrow ledge is all that's there to walk on. The bridge improvement is to widen it for cyclists and pedestrians, as currently it's extremely unsafe, especially with the big trucks crossing it.
Here's the bridge in it's entirety (I took the next two photos). He started at the south end and was working his way across the river to the community I live in.
This is where the beavers usually reside - a slough just north of the river. One wonders if he crossed the river when it was low, and now that it's running fast, took the bridge back to his home. There's a slough on the south side of the river as well, so who knows why it was crossing the bridge. Same reason everyone does, I guess - to get to the other side.
Unfortunately, apparently the beaver didn't make it and was hit by a car almost at the end of the bridge.
It was quite funny to see people posting on the progress of the little guy, how a teen got out of her Mum's car to follow it in hopes of keeping it safe. Apparently someone tried to get it in a blanket to transport it, but I wouldn't want to try that. One bite from teeth that chew a tree down in no time, what do you think it could do to a person?
Leave it to a beaver to create the big excitement of the day, a beaver crossing the bridge. Too bad he didn't make it.
Yup, small town living.
Comments (11)
Haha, we get those too, people needing rides and lost and found dogs and cats. That's probably why the beaver is such big news!
I wouldn't trade living here for anything though.
I think those photos are terrific ! Really nice bridge too, we could do with a few decent nice to look at Bridges.
Amazing how Beavers go on the road, here where I live it's foxes and each day it is so sad, to see Foxes killed in the middle of the road. However, if they don't cross the road, they don't get to eat.
It's so sad that the little fella got hit, but like rabbits and hares and other creatures that live near roadways, it is a daily site. Yes, I have heard about those teeth !
I love the way you write along with the photos. I get a real feel of the place, the Facebook excitement, and it's great to know people do care for the animals who are somewhat new to this type of habitat.
Great blog. Uplifting too which I needed today x
I must be blind because I am for the first time discovering that there is a "like" feature for blogs on this site. Well better late than never in learning something new.
I did find the story sad, that the beaver never made it , but am hoping something will have been learnt from the situation, incase there is a next time of wildlife crossing the bridge.
It's so sad that the little fella got hit, but like rabbits and hares and other creatures that live near roadways, it is a daily site. Yes, I have heard about those teeth !
I love the way you write along with the photos. I get a real feel of the place, the Facebook excitement, and it's great to know people do care for the animals who are somewhat new to this type of habitat.
Great blog. Uplifting too which I needed today x
It's not a common sight to see beavers on the road, but obviously this one really wanted to get across the bridge. It's possible it didn't really want to cross the bridge, but wanted to cross the road on the other side, but got trapped on the bridge with the traffic.
I would love to see foxes! I've only seen a fox once in my life, in an equestrian park where my daughter and I rode our horses. It's sad they get hit.
Thank you for your kind words, and yes, it is nice to see people that are concerned for animals. I'm glad you felt uplifted after reading my blog. There a lot of really good things to focus on in life.
I must be blind because I am for the first time discovering that there is a "like" feature for blogs on this site. Well better late than never in learning something new.
Kicks, I am too. What a nice thing to do. It was funny though, that many people thought she was walking a pet beaver - no leash, when in fact she was just following it.
Well please share where this 'like' button is, because I have no clue where it might be!
I did find the story sad,crying that the beaver never made it , but am hoping something will have been learnt from the situation, incase there is a next time of wildlife crossing the bridge.
Hi 1to1
That's true, about living in a small town, that you don't get the big city news. Well, we do, but only from a distance. I actually don't watch tv and avoid any news. It's all negative and what do I need that in my life for?
Definitely, less is more in that department.
Yeah, everyone was sad the beaver didn't make it. To go all that way and not make it was really heart wrenching. I'm not sure what was learned, if anything. I think everyone did what they could to protect the beaver. Almost everyone slowed down, except for one guy in a truck who almost caused an accident by passing those that were giving the beaver a wide berth. I don't know if he's the one that hit the beaver or not.
Poor little beaver to have travelled all that way and must have been so scared with all that traffic.