Last week, I spent a few mornings at Miner’s Cove in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. As a nature photographer, I’m always drawn to this spot because of the active crayfish population. The early risers know what’s for breakfast, and I love getting there just before sunrise to see who shows up for the buffet.
Right on cue, the first rays of light brought a visitor I wasn’t expecting. A beaver swam right by my truck, giving me a curious look. I snapped a few photos as it glided past, and a few minutes later, I caught some movement in my rearview mirror. There it was, the beaver, sitting by the road grooming itself!
Slowly and carefully, I got out of my truck and started taking pictures. The beaver seemed unfazed at first, meticulously cleaning its fur. After a few moments, it decided it was time for a change of scenery and lumbered across the road towards another pool of water.
While it eventually noticed me, there wasn’t a hint of panic. It took its time crossing the road, a calm contrast to the frenetic energy we humans often bring to the outdoors.
This encounter reminded me of the incredible journeys beavers can take. They’re capable of swimming vast distances, up to 30 miles in a single day, in search of new homes with plentiful food and water. Roads are just minor hurdles in their grand adventures.
Seeing this determined beaver at Miner’s Cove was a fantastic way to start the day. It’s a reminder that nature is full of surprises, and sometimes the most fascinating wildlife encounters happen right outside our car windows.