April 2022 - 6

OPENING SHOT
Awkward haul
Photo: by Savannah Burgess
Gear: Nikon D850
Settings: 1/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000
A
s the looming threat of winter's
brutality approaches, the humble
beaver enters a phase of almost frantic
preparation to hunker down for the harshest
months of the year. In December I visited a
stretch of river in Grand Teton National Park
active with beavers to capture some of the
behavior unique to these charismatic rodents.
Being so late in the year this clan of beavers
remained active throughout the day filling up
their winter food supply.
I did not have to wait long before a rotund
beaver emerged from the water nearly at my
feet and began to lumber from the shore up
a steep bank into the willows. I backed up
to distance myself from the animal and laid
down in the snow where I anticipated the
beaver to return bearing branches.
The repetitive sounds of chomping teeth
transformed into a solid whoosh and thud
when a young aspen tree tipped over in front
of me. Moments later the beaver pushed
through the willows as it gripped its prize
in its brilliant, orange teeth. I positioned
myself broadside to the beaver's anticipated
course in hopes of capturing the scene for
an impactful, story-telling image. I did not
foresee what happened next. The aspen's
branches became tangled in the willows and
the beaver launched forward in a display of
astonishing athleticism as it yanked on the
snared branches. I gripped my camera, fired
away and captured a sequence of images of
this stunt.
The beaver landed squarely on its feet and
continued plodding dutifully along toward
the river, each tug betraying the enormous
strength required to move such a burden. I
gently rose to my feet and slid down the bank,
captured more stills as it made the last leg
of its journey into the water. Only then did
it seem to relax, allowing the current of the
river to guide it effortlessly into deeper water.
Thus concluded the best beaver encounter of
my wildlife photography career.
I am honored to have had this chance
to capture spectacular behavior not often
seen in person. I believe beavers are integral
to this ecosystem, building and maintaining
critical habitat for a host of native species.
For what they provide they deserve our
admiration and empathy.
6 | April 2022

April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2022

April 2022 - 1
April 2022 - 2
April 2022 - 3
April 2022 - 4
April 2022 - 5
April 2022 - 6
April 2022 - 7
April 2022 - 8
April 2022 - 9
April 2022 - 10
April 2022 - 11
April 2022 - 12
April 2022 - 13
April 2022 - 14
April 2022 - 15
April 2022 - 16
April 2022 - 17
April 2022 - 18
April 2022 - 19
April 2022 - 20
April 2022 - 21
April 2022 - 22
April 2022 - 23
April 2022 - 24
April 2022 - 25
April 2022 - 26
April 2022 - 27
April 2022 - 28
April 2022 - 29
April 2022 - 30
April 2022 - 31
April 2022 - 32
April 2022 - 33
April 2022 - 34
April 2022 - 35
April 2022 - 36
April 2022 - 37
April 2022 - 38
April 2022 - 39
April 2022 - 40
April 2022 - 41
April 2022 - 42
April 2022 - 43
April 2022 - 44
April 2022 - 45
April 2022 - 46
April 2022 - 47
April 2022 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com