To pass the afternoon, we sat quietly along the edge of a pond created recently by North American Beavers (Castor canadensis). They first constructed their dam on this small stream about five years ago. Since then, a flourishing wetland has become established. Have a look.
![Beaver Pond A Beaver Pond](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Beaver-Pond-IMG_3264-Copy.jpg)
![Beaver Lodge A beaver lodge.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Beaver-Den-IMG_3284-Copy.jpg)
![Woolgrass Woolgrass in a beaver pond.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Woolgrass-IMG_3478-Copy.jpg)
![Common Whitetail A male Common Whitetail dragonfly keeping watch over his territory.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Common-Whitetail-IMG_3286-Copy.jpg)
![Twelve-spotted Skimmer A Twelve-spotted Skimmer perched on Soft Rush.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Twelve-spotted-Skimmer-IMG_3435-Copy.jpg)
![Blue Dasher with Fall Field Cricket A Blue Dasher dragonfly seizing a Fall Field Cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus).](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Blue-Dasher-seizing-Fall-Field-Cricket-IMG_3444-Copy.jpg)
![Spicebush Swallowtail A Spicebush Swallowtail visiting Cardinal Flower.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Swallowtail-on-Cardinal-Flower-IMG_3467-Copy.jpg)
![Green Heron Green Heron](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Green-Heron-IMG_3310-Copy.jpg)
![Green Heron A Green Heron stalks potential prey.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Green-Heron-IMG_3339-Copy.jpg)
![Wood Duck and Lesser Duckweed A Wood Duck feeding on Lesser Duckweed.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Wood-Duck-IMG_3461-Copy.jpg)
![Least Sandpiper A Least Sandpiper feeding along the muddy edge of a beaver pond.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Least-Sandpiper-IMG_3442-Copy.jpg)
![Solitary Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Solitary-Sandpiper-IMG_3423-Copy.jpg)
![Solitary Sandpiper A Solitary Sandpiper testing the waters for proper feeding depth.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Soliatry-Sandpiper-IMG_3410-Copy.jpg)
![Pectoral Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Pectoral-Sandpiper-IMG_3358-Copy.jpg)
![Sora A Sora rail in a beaver pond.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sora-IMG_3375-Copy.jpg)
Isn’t that amazing? North American Beavers build and maintain what human engineers struggle to master—dams and ponds that reduce pollution, allow fish passage, and support self-sustaining ecosystems. Want to clean up the streams and floodplains of your local watershed? Let the beavers do the job!