Urban Beaver

       I live in Vancouver near the Olympic Village, 7 blocks from the salt water of False Creek and a man made fresh water course in Hinge Park.  I have been watching beavers there for a couple of years. There are dens at Hinge Park, Stanley Park and Vanier Park in Vancouver.  The closeness of the West End condo towers suggests the absurdity of beavers living in Vancouver’s down-town.

A den is a peaked pile of logs and mud in a conical or lean-to shape. It is easy to miss if you have never seen a den. In May the beavers have their babies and stay inside the den for a month. The babies will leave the den in June.