Beaver on the Portage

[Steve Foss]

I have a favorite spot along the Portage River out the Echo Trail from Ely. It's no secret, no mystery, just a nice place to sit at dawn or dusk, knowing that rivers attract pretty much every type of life you can find in the boreal forest, and that there are sunrise/sunset shots thrown in.

So I walked in there this afternoon expecting to sit in a spot and see what might happen. The light was strangely diffuse, the sun a bronze coin behind intense atmospheric haze.

As I crabbed along on hands and knees approaching the river, I heard water flowing hard. It was either that or strong wind sighing through the pines. I looked up. Very little wind in the pines. It was a new beaver dam going up, and the hiss was the water passing through the alder branches that are the precursor to the full dam.

I dropped to the ground and bellied up to the edge of the river, not really expecting to see beavers because they are more active at dawn and dusk and this was the middle of the afternoon.

But a pair of mature animals was there, working through the day. No kits, just the pair, building the dam that would swell an impoundment behind it and allow them to build their lodge.

Backlit by a weak sun

1/500 at f7.1

Putting on fat for the coming winter

1/400 at f8

Dam-building materials

1/400 at f8

Right at me

1/400 at f7.1

Close enough to touch

1/250 at f7.1

[polarsusd81]

So which one of these will be going on the cover of ON this week? Mr. Covershot. In all seriousness, these images are superb as always Steve.

[Andrew Erickson]

those are some pretty sweet shots!

[Steve Foss]

Quote:

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So which one of these will be going on the cover of ON this week?

---

Well, that's not up to me. The beaver heading straight at the camera from right at my level is my fave (there were water droplets on the lens glass when I was done shooting THAT one!). But we'll see.

And thanks, guys.

[jonny_redhorse]

number 2!....the "beav" eating his dinner! ....love the colors! in all of em!...nice work Steve!

[MARINERMAGNUM]

all really nice!

Did he flip you the "bird" with his tail?

[Jim Almquist]

Great shots Steve And a very good story to boot

[MN Shutterbug]

As usual, your determination and pateince paid off. My favorite is #2.

[Paul]

I like the profile shot my self. nature at its best.

[Dbl]

The last one for me, nice work Steve.

[chaffmj]

Nice pictures!

Chaff

[mmeyer]

Great photos Steve. I have to say I like the one carrying the building materials. The colors are very nice. As always, excellent work.

Mike

[Ely Lake Expert]

As always nice pics Steve.