No hands

A beaver pauses to check me out while grazing on the succulent spring grass growing on the banks of the Sturgeon River in Sturgeon County.

The best parts

A beaver grazes for the best parts of the spring grass growing on the banks of the Sturgeon River in Sturgeon County.

Grass is good

The fresh spring grasses bring sustenance to a wide variety of wildlife from Grizzly bears to beavers, including this one. Sturgeon River, Sturgeon County.

Head on

A muskrat breaks the surface of a still pool just before sunset in Sturgeon County.

Swirl

A beaver slices through the surface of the Sturgeon River at dusk.

Alone on the Ice

A muskrat finds a small hole in the ice to dive through on the not quite yet frozen up Sturgeon River near Big Lake. A bald eagle was keeping close watch from the nearby power pole.

Curiosity

When a person stands on the edge of freezing up Big Lake before and during sunrise, even the muskrats begin to wonder what's going on. (The pink water is the reflection from the clouds as the sun came up)

Evening munch

A beaver munches on some vegetation in the late evening on the Sturgeon River. Sturgeon County.

Night Swim

A beaver navigates the Sturgeon River at night. Freezing motion was impossible so I panned the camera using a very slow shutter speed combined with a high ISO thereby capturing this movement like effect. Sturgeon County.

Muskrat

J Poole Wetland, St Albert.

Young Muskrat

Probably one of this year's new arrivals, J Poole Wetland, St Albert

Muskrat

Chewing on a root, J Poole Wetland, St Albert.

Spring Beaver

The beaver climbed the banks of the Sturgeon River at dusk to munch on the fresh spring grass that has finally made an appearance. Sturgeon County.

Evening swim

A beaver swims the Sturgeon River at dusk. Sturgeon County.

Healthy Meal

A muskrat eats a crayfish on the shore line of Big Lake. Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Dining out

A muskrat has found a tasty crayfish to eat in Big Lake. Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Group photo

A group of muskrats enjoying the cool spring morning sunshine on top of a bed of reeds on the flood plain of Big Lake. They were oblivious to a Bald Eagle circling overhead, I think my presence turned its predatory instincts to self preservation and it flew off. Lois Hole Park. St Albert.

Muskrat taking a bite

A muskrat pauses to take a bite in the J Poole Wetland, St Albert.

Wetland Muskrat

A muskrat swims through the J Poole Wetland, St Albert.

Bow wave

A beaver impressively out swims the current of the swiftly flowing Sturgeon River and creates a bow wave in the reflections caused by the early morning spring sunshine. Sturgeon County.

The chase

Muskrat playing (courting?) in the shallow flooded wetlands adjacent to Big Lake, Lois Hole Park, St Albert.

Ahh the bliss!!!

This guardrail post has became a popular spot for Muskrats to hang out and bask in the warming spring sunshine. Sturgeon River, St Albert.

Sleeping at the post

This muskrat has found what appears to be convenient spot to build a sleeping platform and perhaps the start of a lodge? It will be in for a bit of a surprise when the river level falls, this is a guard rail post on the bike path that runs underneath Ray Gibbon Drive in St Albert.

Intimacy on the river

Muskrats sharing an intimate moment. Sturgeon River, St Albert.