Our weekly recon in the backwoods yesterday discovered a rather large tree was taken down by the beavers at dam Echo (named for the snow machine trail bridge that has been submerged by the dam: the fifth bridge from the spot on Woodbury pond where the trail starts). The dam is looking as substantial as can be imagined (See last image below). We have not seen any evidence that anyone has been attempting to remove it or at least lower the water level so that bridge Echo is useable.

The tree is probably a foot in diameter! I have a shot from a couple weeks ago showing it standing; I cannot imagine why they need such a large piece of lumber. I have not seen any evidence of a beaver lodge yet and this is surprising since we are probably less than a month from some good snow and true winter. The dam’s purpose is to create the conditions for the lodge where they will spend the winter. Our future patrols will be focused on finding where they will build it.