An episode appeared twice a month
in The Michigan Farmer magazine.
Jerry Is Introduced to Flattail
Many of you will remember Uncle Joe Spence, the fire warden who is
quite adept at his job, and the many adventures that he told us about
in the Whitepaw stories. Friendly Forest is lucky to have such a diligent
agent in the fire tower, and Jerry and I am lucky to have such a friend
and teacher. We are all grateful to have his wonderful stories to share,
the next of which about Flattail.
The forest was silent as Jerry, Uncle Joe, and I crept quietly along.
"We're almost there," Uncle Joe whispered, "and the slightest
sound may lose our chance to get a close look at Flattail."
"First, I am going to show you Flattail's home in Friendly Creek,"
Uncle Joe told us. "I could show you where he lives from the tower,"
he continued, "but I think you will get a better view of him and
how he lives by actually visiting him."
Uncle Joe stopped and listened. "Friendly Creek is just ahead,"
he whispered. "We'll creep up behind the bushes near the creek."
We followed Uncle Joe quietly, keeping the bushes between us and the
creek. When he reached a little ridge of land he stopped. Bending forward
he parted the bushes with his hand and looked through.
"There he is now," Uncle Joe motioned.
We both looked. There on the bank of Friendly Creek, opposite us among
the cattails and rushes, was an animal about the size of a small dog,
and its tail was flat.
"It's a beaver, isn't it Uncle Joe?" Jerry whispered behind
his hand.
Uncle Joe nodded and spoke close to our ears. "Notice his tail."
Flattail sat very still with his tail beside him. He was covered with
fur but his tail was flat and hard with no fur on it. He was sunning
himself and seemed to be asleep.
"That's the beaver house farther down the stream. It looks like
a pile of brush but it is well built and and comfortable inside."
Other beavers were around the house; some swimming about and one resting
on top of the beaver house.
"What makes the creek so much wider right here?" Jerry asked.
"Before I answer that," said Uncle Joe, "let's stand
up and see what happens."
As we arose, there was a sound like a large hand hitting the water.
The beavers had disappeared. "That was a beaver signal," Uncle
Joe explained. "When a beaver hears an enemy near, he slaps his
flat tail on the water. That is the signal that danger is close by.
They also use their rails as rudders when they swim. Beavers usually
work at night; but out here, with few enemies, they are often abroad
in the day time.
"Following Uncle Joe, we soon came out on the bank of Friendly
Creek near the beaver house.
Jerry looked around him. "Where did all the beavers go?"
he asked.
Uncle Joe laughed. "They're all in the beaver house by now or
else out swimming under water. They are probably wondering what we're
up to." Turning to Jerry, Uncle Joe continued, "And here's
the answer to your question about the creek being wide." He pointed
to the beaver dam. "The beavers are very intelligent. They bring
logs and sticks and mud and build a dam across the creek. This raises
the water up high enough to cover the house. The water keeps most of
the beavers' enemies out."
"What enemies doesn't the water keep out?" Jerry asked innocently.
"It was through one of those enemies that I became better acquainted
with Flattail," Uncle Joe said.
A pleased smile came over Jerry's face. "I know," he said,
"and you'll tell us about it tomorrow."
Click HERE to read "Flattail
Is Made a Prisoner"
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© 2004 Leo VanMeer
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