Beaver: Winona's Big Brown

In the wilds of suburbia there is a tiny stretch of forest. Trapped and fenced between ribbons of concrete this tiny preserve thrives. Through this tiny preserve is a path. Suburbanites wander path in their jogging gear or alongside their canine companions.

One unexpected thing about this small stretch of trees and ponds is the abundance of wildlife. Ducks and geese are everywhere. They're common in Illinois anyway. There might even be deer and the occasional coyote. What I didn't expect to see was evidence of a beaver. Quickly I snapped a picture. I was giddy at my find. "Wow! There's a beaver left in Illinois!" I thought.

Then I turned to the internet for knowledge. What I found out left me both excited and deflated. You see, beavers are so common that they can be considered a pest animal. According to the Illinois Furbearer Guide there is even a beaver trapping season.

What excited me was their size. Beavers are 40 to 50 pound rodents. Do you have a 4 year old laying around? Go look at them. That is the size of a beaver. They are huge rodents with huge teeth... In your backyard. Enjoy.