Illinois’ largest rodents are in city lagoons, rivers and streams. Now, they’re on Instagram

CHICAGO TRIBUNE ^ | DEC 29, 2020 | MORGAN GREENE

[SJackson]

Among the more humble recipients of our longer walks and affinity for nature during the pandemic: beavers.

On recent mornings, shortly before and after sunrise, small groups of people have traveled to a bridge on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston. Some leave willow branches. For the beavers.

“They’ve got this whole following,” said Tamar Selch, who stops by regularly with her husband, Zach. “They’re very cute. And how often do you really get to see beavers out there?”

Illinois’ largest rodents are in city lagoons, rivers and streams. They’re on Instagram and TikTok. Sometimes a nuisance, and at other times a welcomed presence, beavers have found respite all over the state, a switch from when they were wiped out by hunters by the early 1900s — and a sign that water quality and habitat possibilities have long been on the upswing. Now they’re making their last push as the cold sets in to shore up their lodges and stock up on food.

And offering another reminder of what we notice when we spend more time outdoors.

“When I was a kid, the idea that I would see a wild beaver on my walks in the morning was unheard of,” Zach Selch said. “So it’s sort of cool to have them right here in the middle of Evanston.”

[V_TWIN]

Yep

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Or the Mayor of Chicago’s.

[tet68]

[Hot Tabasco]

Beavers are now all over S.E. Michigan, mostly in water shed drain streams........Had a couple that built a dam on the east side of my complex on the watershed and I got a kick out of walking down that road and watching them at work.

That came to an end when one of my homeowners board members called the DNR who came in and trapped the beavers and destroyed the dam.

I was upset at first but a month later, we had a week of torrential rains that would have taken out that road if the dam had been there..........

[Hot Tabasco]

As a post script, there appears to be beavers back in that area since there are numerous trees that they have been chewing on along the stream bank

[gundog]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDfwUJzYQg

[Don W]

Don't forget about Winona's Big Brown Beaver

[Don W]

Beat me by ONE STINKING MINUTE!

[gundog]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t3QRd9-_kYI

[gundog]

It’s worth watching twice.

[oldvirginian]

I’ve read the old mountain men really developed a taste for beaver tail.

[reg45]

If we bring back beaver hats, the problem will solve itself.

[Bonemaker]

Illinois's largest rodent:

[Bonemaker]

[SJackson]

Might be the largest Governor too.

[Bonemaker]

[Mr. K]

I just found out lhat there is a liquor store in my area called “Beaver Liquors”

[SJackson]

As I mentioned not my favorite animal, though they’re nice to see somewhere else. I probably like them less than ground hogs.

[moovova]

Lowes had signs up at the Returns desk that asked customers to maintain social distancing of “6 feet or 2 meters”. I asked the Returns clerk... “Which is it?” She said “Huh?”. I said “Which is it? 6 feet or 2 meters?”. She said “Huh?”.

[5th MEB]

Beaver fur makes great hats, don’t know about congress pelts.