“[I was in] total shock.”
When Diane moved from the hustle and bustle of city life to the quiet town of Field, Ontario, she found herself face-to-face with a new challenge: living among wildlife. That’s how she discovered trail cameras.
“I had to make a choice: stay inside, afraid of everything, or go out and embrace it,” Diane, who runs the Facebook page Adventurous Diane, told The Dodo. “It took about three years, but now I’m completely comfortable. I have 16 cameras spread over 30 miles and regularly hike alone. It’s a privilege to explore untouched wilderness.”
Her cameras capture a fascinating mix of visitors: bears, deer, wolves, raccoons, lynx, otters, geese, squirrels, and a variety of birds. One camera, positioned near an abandoned pond, recently recorded the return of a busy beaver.
Beavers are well-known for building dams and chewing down trees to create safe homes. This one, in particular, was on a mission.
“The beaver began chewing on the tree where my camera was mounted,” Diane said. “For two days, it nudged the camera around, producing about 300 photos, until the tree finally came down.”
Watching the footage, Diane saw the camera topple — but thankfully, it survived.
“I was shocked at first, then couldn’t stop laughing,” she said. “I was so glad it was still working.”
Diane later returned to secure the camera, attaching it to a stick tied to the remains of the tree. While she hasn’t met her beaver friend in person, his presence is unmistakable. She looks forward to capturing more of his clever antics — and hopes he leaves her camera alone next time.