Beavers like the creek, too, and on the property next to us they have been busy. The first dam I saw, created from rock, was so tidy I thought humans had done it. And they have soldiered on, making a sizable pool. Those wires you see crossing the water are our fenceline.
Looking toward our neighbors' property, this is where most of the pond is spreading. That's a yak in the background and an adobe building behind the yak.
Beavers used to be considered pests, but they have become popular lately with ranchers and environmentalists because their dams cause water in the streams to soak into the surrounding grounds, in some cases causing the water table to rise. In arid climates like ours, that's a good thing.
This dam isn't stopping the water, so our "herd" of beef cattle, all two of them now, have plenty of creek water to drink.
Ms. Pearl likes the beaver pond, too. She calls it her swimming pool.
Sometimes she gives us her impression of a beaver.
We are happy to have the beavers move in. The water level in the creek has been low and fishing here has been almost nonexistent.
With deeper water, maybe trout will stay a little longer, if they don't mind sharing a pond with beavers, cattle, yaks, and dogs.
