File:The Beaver - An emblem of Canada (48968413726).png

The Beaver - An emblem of Canada

We visited the Mer Bleue bog yesterday and wandered around the boardwalk which encircles much of the bog. During our walk we enjoyed several moments watching this beaver whittle wood and reeds, presumably for his lodge (which is immediately behind him in this image). He seemed completely undisturbed by our nearby presence, perhaps because the boardwalk is immensely popular and there were literally dozens and dozens of people at Mer Bleue yesterday. I enjoyed watching his little hands manipulate the stick as he turned it round and round, I also really liked the little grunting sounds that he made as he variously chewed and shaped the stick.

“A herbivorous mammal weighing 16–35 kg and measuring up to 1.3 m from snout to paddled tail, the beaver (Castor canadensis) is Canada's largest rodent and the second-largest rodent in the world (after the capybara). It is primarily nocturnal and lives a semi-aquatic life.

One of the only mammals, other than humans, that can manufacture its own environment, the beaver is known for building dams, canals and lodges. Its colonies are created by one or more beaver-built dams, which provide still and deep water for protection against predators. An emblem of Canada older than the maple leaf, the beaver has had a greater impact on Canadian history and exploration than any other animal or plant species.”