These videos and photographs are from a series of Beaver observations made in Carrollton, Texas. The images were recorded over the course of two busy nights with a time lapse camera. During this time the Beaver made a considerable number of modifications to its lodge. It also briefly interacted with other wildlife, and it had to endure a raging thunderstorm.

The first video segment is the most comprehensive. It contains footage of the Beaver making repairs and additions to its lodge over the course of two nights. The video compresses around 12 hours into just a little over one minute. Playback is fast, so keep your eyes peeled. Watch for the the Beaver adding dark, fresh mud and new branches. Also keep an eye out for other visitors to the lodge (rats, Raccoons, and Mallards). Occasionally there will be something going on in the background. Reflective eyes are often the key to locating where the action is taking place. Finally, a powerful storm passes through towards the end of the video. Watch for the rising and lowering water levels in the Beaver’s pond.

The second video segment contains two nights of the Beaver alone. His activities over this time period are compressed down to just over three minutes. This video runs at a slower rate, so it will be easier see the Beaver’s behaviors. Watch as the Beaver works tirelessly to enlarge its lodge. Notable in this clip are a couple of instances where the Beaver can be seen walking semi-upright while carrying a load of mud in its front paws.

In the final video segment, a pair of Raccoons show up at the Beaver lodge and proceed to clown around. The Beaver continues working diligently in spite of his uninvited guests.

Be sure to watch the video full screen so you can catch all of the details.

After the video is a picture gallery containing interesting stills complete with detailed commentary. Enjoy!

The Beaver appears!
The Beaver adding mud to the top of its lodge.
Here the Beaver can be seen carrying an armful of mud in its front paws.
In this picture the Beaver is facing away from the camera and is packing freshly placed mud with its tail.
A Raccoon appears!
One Raccoon is in the tree. One Raccoon is peering from behind the base of the tree. And, the Beaver is spreading mud in front of the tree.
The Beaver repositions a branch while the Raccoons look on.
One Raccoon starts to come down out of the tree, while the Beaver continues his work.
The Beaver is at the top of the lodge near the base of the tree. But, look up in the vine-covered tree to the left. Do you see the two glowing eyes two-thirds of the way up? That’s one of our Raccoons.
Something has attracted the Raccoons’ attention.
There may be four animals in this photograph. Two Raccoons are in the tree. The Beaver can be seen coming out of the water just to the left of the tree. And, if you look in the vine-covered tree, there is a indistinct, dark shape about half way up that is not present in other photographs.
The Raccoons have moved on, but the Beaver continues to work. Here he can be seen carrying another load of mud onto the lodge.
The Beaver carries fresh mud in its arms, and moves into position using its back legs only.
Here, the Beaver is seen placing a fresh load of dark, wet mud.
A considerable number of additions were made to the Beaver’s lodge over the course of these two nights.

4 Replies to “Beaver – Home Maintenance”

  1. Hurrah. Your persistence has paid off beautifully. That beaver is such a hard-worker. Seems like there should be an Aesop’s fable about the diligent beaver and the raccoon clowns. Seriously, though, your recordings offer amazing windows into the largely secret lives of urban and semi-urban animals. I wonder if there is a biologist at one of the area universities who is working on urban ecology and could use your research. Congrats!

    1. I’ll tell you what, there is a lot that could be documented with this Beaver. I wish I had the foresight to begin recording pictures early enough to show how the pond has changed over time, for instance. It did not occur to me that the changes would be so dramatic.

      I’m also sure, if he continues to thrive, that there will be a mate and then little ones. It would be fascinating to see how multiple Beavers would transform this location.

      One thing I have found interesting is the nature of the dam he has built. Every resource I have ever accessed shows Beaver dams to be made up of logs and branches. The dam at this location is made of mostly reeds and mud.

      In any case, its time for me to move on to other animals, but I am going to keep an eye open for him to begin working taking down another tree. I would love to get that action on video!

    1. I never saw any evidence that the Raccoons were doing anything other than investigating. I think they were just curious. What’s more, is that it wouldn’t be easy for the Raccoons to make it to the lodge. They would have to swim, or climb through the trees to get there. It would seem that Raccoons can be powerfully motivated by their curiosity.

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