Celebrate International Beaver Day !

Good ways exist to celebrate International Beaver Day 2020, April 7, or later in April, Beaver Awareness Month— even with “stay-at-home” guidelines. They only prohibit outdoor activities where people gather together without social distancing.  It’s still fine to walk to a beaver pond alone, or with others who stay 6 feet apart. 

Spending time in nature is recommended to relieve the stress of 24 to 7 pandemic news.  When you hike through a forest, fragrant terpenes (think of the scent of a balsam wreath) released by evergreens are naturally relaxing. Sitting by a body of water is soothing for most people too.  Beaver ponds are havens of life, especially in the spring when migratory species, such as the common merganser, add to the enjoyment. Black and white males of this merg are often mistaken for small loons, while the rust-colored females tend to blend with their watery habitat

And the flat-tailed stars of the show are especially fascinating to watch as they cruise, dive and tail-slap. You may even see one posting their territory.  A beaver brings an armful of mud and debris to the shore and then dances a jig over the muddy mound while releasing musky castoreum.  Or, if you can’t go to a pond, this is a fine time to read a beaver book or watch a beaver video — find some good ones at https://www.beaversww.org/shop/page/2/ where your purchases support our all-volunteer non-profit’s educational work.