A savvy beaver

I am fascinated by this photo. The slender hourglass shape carved by the beaver is striking. It looks fragile, yet perfectly balanced. I have seen many pointy tree stumps completely chomped down by beavers, and others with a few nibbles, but this trunk stood out as it was so very close to completion. Another bite or two, chomp chomp, and it surely it would fall. 

I took the photo a couple years and keep thinking about it. There must be meaning, a message, a hidden truth, to be uncovered in this finely chiseled trunk. But what? 

Then at the cottage this week I saw a beaver swimming across the lake. The sleuthy beaver has been climbing up on shore and cutting down small birch trees and saplings. One day my sister-in-law was sitting in her cottage and was startled to see some leaves abruptly shake and fall to the ground. The beaver hauled away the little tree right before her eyes!

A beaver in action. Busy they have been. Seeing them at work reinforces the phrase “busy as a beaver”. I don’t think anyone would accuse a beaver of being lazy.

As further evidence of their industriousness, the beaver built a lodge at an abandoned dock in a bay nearby. The rotten dock, partially submerged in the water, was connected at the shoreline to a carefully arranged pile of twigs and small logs. A dome structure about 3 feet tall. It was quite a masterpiece. Repurposing at its best.

I imagine the beaver had a plan. A plan to be executed over several days. In between the hard working days, they retreated to the cozy lodge to curl up and rest for another day. Recharge.

When you need to stop, stop. Tired, hungry, fed up, whatever. It’s okay. More than okay, it’s needed. Take a break. You can come back and keep working on your project the next day.

Like the busy beaver.