Before leaving Plymouth I had the good fortune to run into my friend Pat at the local cafe. Pat is a rosy faced man with a big smile and an easy but erudite nature. He’s is an arborist and he is a reader. Pat has, on several occasions, shared discoveries that have helped me in timely ways. Understanding my thrill in moving to Savoy and living across the road from an active beaver pond, he suggested a book with an unusual perspective on beavers. (I have to confess that I’ve loaned out the book so I’m unable to share the title.) The book spoke of the beavers ability to engineer whole eco-systems by damming up mountain streams to form ponds and wetland areas. These areas are Mecca for wildlife, and living next to such a pond would be an adventure. Throughout the first winter, I could see signs of beavers, and when the afternoons began to warm and he ice opened up in places, tracks would appear on the snowy banks. Occasionally, I would spot a dark colored animal silhouetted by the snow. I observed this large beaver swim down below the ridge of the dam and open a hole for water to exit, lowering the surface of the water uncovering a store of willow branches placed there before the pond had frozen. He would feast on the inner bark, and when he had eaten his full, he’d re-plug the dam to submerge the balance of the store. That spring two beavers would be seen swimming in the dark waters with their adorable kit dottling by edge of the lodge.

The second chapter of the book talked about life after the beavers leave… which unfortunately became prophetic, as later that spring, the family of beavers moved on from the hardwood depleated area. I was, of course saddened to see them leave, but in their place, an entirely new set of discoveries was about to unfold. Ducks and geese and herons and deer, and a host of supporting characters began to appear. A virtual parade of animals made their way to the pond, and just as the book foretold, the pond, itself, began to change. Sediment that had collected over the years gave rise to thick green grass around the perimeter. The grasses, in fact, extended way beyond the pond, and lots of new woody shoots sprang up — the start of new deciduous growth – the lifeblood of beavers. Here are a few of the visitors that I’ve enjoyed at the beaver pond:

One has but to sit quietly for 20 minutes or so and the show begins. My carpenter friend, Joe Jeddry calls the view from my front porch: “Savoy TV”.

I’ve read that beaver ponds have either an abundance of frogs or an abundance of newts. One spring I found a massive cloud of eggs that I was certain were newts as they are seen frequently along the shallow banks, I could see dozen of them swimming in and around the eggs and set up my camera to videotape the activity. When unloading the files I was shocked to find the newts were not laying the eggs… they were eating the eggs! I deduced that the habitat was indeed a newt haven and not a frog haven. And, sure enough, large fowl make their rounds to feed on the delectable amphibians. The pond seems larger than ever now, as the dam, no longer able to empty, swells with every rainfall. The entire area has become verdant and rich. I do miss the industrious beavers, but working at my desk, I will spot ducks or a deer out of the corner of my eye and keep a camera with an old lens I call “the bazooka” permanently on the porch. I have but to dash out, quietly open the screen, and shoot! I have no doubts that giant wind turbines would scatter the wild life and fragment the habitats of countless birds and animals. Evidence to the contrary is often quoted… but I completely disbelieve that reporting.

Two nesting pairs of Mallards

A female Bufflehead (with many suitors)

Two pairs of Wood Ducks (a family of ducklings)

Mergansers, Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons

An American Bittern

Red tailed Hawks

Several Banded Kingfishers

Red wing blackbirds and many different song birds.

A barred Owl

And lots of Does often with their fawns.

I have even seen a fisher cat, and recently, a juvenile black bear!

• This is worth fighting for!   Marsh and Sue

• Salvy – what a beautiful ode to life – and now – due to all the hard work you have done – a reprieve for your pond. I couldn’t imagine better news to discover after waking and after a sad day spent saying good bye to an old companion.    Louise Barteau

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