Blog: Rodents of unusual size – Beavers are back in Humboldt County
In recent years a few folks who pay attention to the wild critters have been whispering of sighting beavers in the Eel River of Humboldt County and even dams in a few tributaries. In 2015 we even posted about a local wildlife tracker finding beaver footprints. But, much like those other mythical Rodents of Unusual Size (ROUS) from “The Princess Bride,” the existence of these industrious creatures here has been doubted ever since they apparently went extinct in the region due to over-trapping and habitat loss during the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, as naturalists and river lovers shared recent sightings more and more frequently, local folks are learning that the beavers are back in Humboldt County. A popular local wildlife photographer, Ann Constantino, last week spotted beavers in Southern Humboldt and took a series of captivating images.