Besides man, the beaver is one of the few animals that can change its environment to benefit itself. And at least one, and probably more, are doing that right here in Paulding County. How do I know? Well, I was recently invited by a local resident to take a look at a beaver dam built across a little creek close to his home. What I saw was truly fascinating, something that I would call an engineering masterpiece, albeit au naturel.

There before me was indeed a beaver dam, measuring approximately 24 feet long. Also nearby were several felled cottonwood trees, unmistakably cut by a beaver.