Beaver
This is an old webpage carried forward to our new site. Please note that some of the information might be out of date and we probably have newer footage.
Beaver
The story of the North American beaver is well known. As much as any animal its the beaver that helped bring European settlement to much of western North America. The beaver was the currency of the 18th and 19th centuries. Unfortunately, that currency almost completely dried up as beaver were overtrapped and extirpated from much of their range. Fortunately, they have made a remarkable comeback and are now fullfilling their natural role in ecosystems.
The beaver is one of only a few species and can truly be called a keystone species. Their dams impound streams, creating ponds where there was once flowing water. This benefits many species.
Filming Beaver Stock Footage
Filming beaver is surprisingly hard, in large part because they are mostly nocturnal. This is especially true in areas where they are persecuted by hunters and trappers. Even when they do come out in daylight, it is usually in the dim light of dusk and dawn. And then you mostly only see the head sticking out of the water. But keep the camera rolling as an alarmed beaver will suddenly slap its tail on the water making a large splash that warns other beaver that danger is nearby.
Filming beaver in the process of gnawing down a tree is much more difficult. Infrared equipment at night can greatly increase your chances of catching such behavior.