I photographed a beaver eating corn on the cob at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. This was the first time I had seen a beaver eat corn. I found it near Tuff Boat Ramp, along the Arkansas River side of the refuge’s auto tour road.
A Beaver Eating Corn Near the Arkansas River
I associate beavers with bark, twigs, and water plants, so this meal caught my attention. The beaver had an ear of corn to eat beside the river.
Beavers eat a range of plant foods. Along with bark, leaves, and twigs, they feed on grasses, roots, and aquatic vegetation. Their diet can also include crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat.
That appetite can bring them into conflict with farmers when they feed on crops. Here at the refuge, I had a chance to photograph a food choice I had never witnessed before.
Photographing the Beaver From My Truck
I stayed in my truck to photograph the beaver. I supported my camera and lens on a bean bag over the open window. That gave me a steady base for the long lens while I photographed it eating.
Camera settings and image details
- Date: November 28, 2010
- Time: 7:24 a.m.
- Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon 500mm f/4
- Aperture: f/4
- Shutter speed: 1/320 second
- ISO: 800
- Exposure compensation: 0
Another Beaver Meal at Sequoyah
I have also photographed a North American Beaver Eating Water Plants at Miner’s Cove in the refuge. During that encounter, the beaver faced me after months of morning sightings with its back toward my camera.
These encounters gave me two views of beavers feeding at Sequoyah. The corn meal stood out because I had never seen it before, while the Miner’s Cove encounter gave me a better angle on familiar behavior.