Lynette Anderson, Interpretive Naturlist

Beaver have been residents at Belwin Conservancy on and off for many years, most visibly in Bulrush Slough near the Wetlands Classroom. Beaver are probably best known for building dams that stop water flow to create a pond.

It’s oh, so cold out right now! We are donning extra layers and paying attention to fingers and toes that might be prone to frostbite. We are weary and it seems like winter will go on forever. But take heart! We have passed the point of no return and nature is already preparing for the coming spring.

If you step outside in the pre-dawn hours at this time of year, you may hear this: nothing. Perhaps as you listen closer, the wind may make its presence known but more often than not, it’s the crisp air and silent landscape that makes this time its own.

The subnivean zone (Latin for “under snow”) is what makes winter life for mice, voles and shrews a bit easier. This shallow, open space forms under deep, layered snow and can maintain a relatively stable temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.