The Bismarck Tribune

BEAVERS BUILD 40-FOOT DAM

Spanning Creek Through Ravine Near Sawyer

Sawyer, N. D., Sept. 18.—Construction of a dam, about 40 feet long, spanning a creek which runs through a ravine about five miles southeast of Sawyer, later emptying into the Mouse river, has been begun by a family of beavers which has inhabited that vicinity for the past two years, according to Nick Zuzulin, who viewed the dam Sunday.

At the present time, according to Mr. Zuzulin, the beavers have temporarily ceased operations on their dam and are now engaged in the work of constructing a house for winter quarters.

The top of the house measures about eight feet across, according to the Minot man, and the tree and mud structure stands about five feet above the water level. A portion of the house rests on the bank of the creek and the remainder is in the water.

Is Big Project

The dam itself is about 40 feet long, Mr. Zuzulin states and into it has been placed pieces of trees from six to eight feet long and as much as eight inches in diameter, which have been cut down by the sharp teeth of the beavers and dragged from the nearby hillsides into the creek.

It is impossible, according to Mr. Zuzulin, to see the beavers at their work, inasmuch as beaver guards immediately warn the workmen of any possible danger, and the entire personnel of the colony disappears from sight beneath the water of the creek.

The farmer on whose property the small animals are building the dam and their winter quarters is not particularly desirous of their presence it is declared. Several times during the past few days the beavers have felled large trees which have broken down his fence. Two years ago the beavers built a dam in about the same location, causing the waters of the creek to flood a large portion of his fields.