A Beaver family finds a new home

 A beaver family is a tight knit unit. The kits are born in early spring and spend at least two years with their parents. During this time they learn the essentials of being a beaver. 

Dam construction and repair, lodge construction, channel building and most importantly, how to identify predators. These are some of the lessons mom and dad teach their kits. 

The beavers in this video were displaced from their home by people who just simply don't get it. Instead of placing mesh around their shoreline trees, they tore the lodge apart and chased the beavers from the marsh they inhabited. One kit died in the process. 

It is my hope, that simple videos like this will help people understand that the wild folks of the forest have much to teach us.  

I watched this family for three years, they accepted me in their home. I floated for hours in my canoe as they paddled around me. I sat quietly by the shoreline as they chewed on saplings I brought them. Mom would sit on my foot as she groomed her fur. 

I learned volumes about these little forest folk and I learned much about myself. 

I hope you enjoy this video; shot with an older camera it is a bit grainy, but moments like this are rarely repeated. 

With much respect to those who care. 

Hawks. 

Winter fades away to spring.

Winter is fading as the sun returns to warm the land. The forest streams are trundling their way to nearby lakes and ponds. 

The wild ones that persevered through the cold months shake off the chill and meander around the woods loving the warmth. Migrating birds are returning and filling the silent woods with their songs. Frogs and turtles rise from their deep sleep and move to the surface of the ponds to say hello to a world they have not seen for several months. 

Spring peepers; small frogs with huge voices, call out into the night creating a chorus of sound which fills the hollows of the forest with deafening power. 

Soon the black-flies will come out from under the leaf litter and fill the air with their clouds of annoyance. Knowing that they in turn will feed the fish, makes their arrival easier to accept.  It is simply part of the cycle which makes the forest healthy and whole. 

Into this awakening world I move, as quietly as possible and without purpose. I want to soak in all the sights and sounds of the spring for I know, without question, spring will turn to summer and new sounds and sights will fill my mind and spring will fade into memory.    

Once again my paddle can dig into the cool water and my canoe can glide silently into the wilderness carrying me into the world which I call home. 

  

Face to Face with An Alien.

This smiley faced alien is actually a tree frog. There are two species which look identical - the Grey Tree Frog and the Cope's Grey Tree Frog. 

The only way to field identify these little guys is by their voices. I find it impossible to differentiate the two due to the sheer volume of sound emitted from them when the mating urge envelopes the pond.

I have to wear ear plugs when sitting or canoeing around the pond which is in front of my house. The chirping is so loud it echoes within my skull to the point where internal dialogue is almost impossible. 

Pond Life

The little frogs call out in earnest from early May to June in Algonquin Highlands, slowing to intermittent calls through to August.  

I know of one person who rented a back-hoe and buried a small seep in front of his house to erase all traces of these little creatures. I will confess to you that when I discovered this person's indiscretion - I was more vocal than any frog could be.  

These frogs live in the forest but breed in wetlands and ponds. They blend in so well - locating them can be difficult. 

When traversing forested areas and wetlands, please remember that there are smiling faces looking at you. Tread lightly and enjoy the frog's ear popping sounds as they are telling you that the area through which you travel is healthy and vibrant. 

For us forest dwellers, their calls are reassuring; informing us that everything is alright within the green world we call home.  

Happy wandering.