Beaver watching in Mass (or NE in general)?

Submitted by ThaMac t3_10zssoh in massachusetts

This is obviously extremely random, but over the past few years I've grown a deep fascination and love of Beavers and the service they provide to the earth and life in general.

I've done a little bit of research and found some guided tours for Beaver watching in places like Norfolk, but I'm curious if anyone knows of anything else in the area that might help me explore some natural Beaver habitats a bit more?

Guided tours would be great but also just places that I can go on my own that are known to have large Beaver populations building their amazing dams and lodges, I'd be happy to drive anywhere in New England. Any help would be appreciated!

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justlikethewwdove t1_j85klti wrote

Conway State Forest in western Mass is a really secluded spot that has a few beaver dams and marshes. Last time I was there I got a little spooked by a beaver felling a small tree and dragging it through the woods lol it was so loud I thought it was a black bear

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AnyRound5042 t1_j866tu9 wrote

In my experience you won't see the actual beavers very frequently in general. but you can see tons and tons of their activity at mount misery

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greymaresinspace t1_j850jb5 wrote

that is super random! love it

talk to Fish and Wildlife

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Larrasco t1_j87i1e3 wrote

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary… it’s a Mass Audubon spot in Natick. Tons of beaver activity and there’s also bathrooms so that’s good too.

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ThaMac OP t1_j85oljl wrote

I wanted to say I saw the article you posted about parachuting beavers and I’m kind of freaking out, it’s so cute and hilarious

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greymaresinspace t1_j85s0u6 wrote

you caught me! that is funny you are on that sub- yes i was inspired by your post

there is a great book called The Truth about Animals by Lucy Cooke (and of course, I lent it to someone and never saw it again) the chapter on beavers was unbelievable, and i was trying to recall what it was that was so astonishing.

Aside from their anal glands smelling like vanilla, there was something about their social structure that was mind-blowing, and I was looking to see if I could find it somewhere. but instead, i got beaver parachuting

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ThaMac OP t1_j861wok wrote

I didn’t know that about their anal glands. Lol.

Yes I’m fascinated by them. They operate as true families, stay mates for life and the fathers help raise the kits to become productive dam building adults.

Their dams and ponds create ecosystems for hundreds of other species to cohabitate. The ponds create gardens in literal deserts, essential for irrigation of land and life.

They also act as carbon sinks, filtering out water and potentially help combat climate change. The storage of essential water helps immensely with droughts to the benefit of all wildlife and even human settlements.

I’m obsessed, they are also cute as fuck especially the babies, and yeah parachuting beavers really sent me lmao

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PurpleTurle711 t1_j86vrb5 wrote

There’s a beaver dam at the Cranberry Bogs by Gillette Stadium, behind Bass Pro.

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Jonbonetramshead t1_j874eds wrote

I’ve had luck at Mardi Gras in Springfield.

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krissym99 t1_j87d9z6 wrote

A few of the Mass Audubons are good choices for beavers. There's Stony Brook and Pleasant Valley off the top of my head.

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BovaDesnuts t1_j84vw0w wrote

Theres a lot of small reservoirs with hiking trails around them and beaver evidence

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B-Roc- t1_j856vd6 wrote

There is a pond in Pelham, NH with a well marked nature trail off Sherburne Road with a few beaver dams.

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Dihydrogen-monoxyde t1_j88d6ni wrote

Assabet Wildlife refuge (Maynard/Sudbury)
If you go after a cold day, you can see the beavers making a channel and preventing the water from freezing. 42.406805 -71.456165

https://imgur.com/a/EZ0WpWJ

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itsmejoey88 t1_j84xl74 wrote

There's a place in Paxton across from the college we're the bevers are very active it's not hard to spot their nests/dens

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MoreGuitarPlease t1_j85utgi wrote

Check out Tully Lake in Royalston. The long pond is a great 7-8 mile walk/hike and tons of beaver activity. Sometimes I go and don’t see another person.

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caviarwall t1_j863neo wrote

Boxford has a ton of little ponds and beaver dams

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Beck316 t1_j86ck84 wrote

Dufresne's Park in Granby MA. You can see the saplings they cut down, the lodges they build and they keep damming the overflow outlet at the end of the pond. Also they're sorta nocturnal I think.

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Seaworthiness222 t1_j86ks8h wrote

Along the Rutland rail trail right about HERE there is a beaver lodge RIGHT next to the trail. Sometimes it comes out and stares at you f you are too close. He also does the beaver flap to threaten you.

There are also a few other ponds on this trail very close with several other beavers.

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beaveristired t1_j87rk7i wrote

I haven’t been in years, but DAR state forest has a wildlife blind overlooking a beaver pond. Not sure how active it is now. But I’ve had good luck with wildlife blinds. Also go at dusk or dawn. Good luck!

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Potato_Octopi t1_j88bwmj wrote

Assabet has beavers and beaver dams. Seen them a few times too.

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BostonPilot t1_j88ecyr wrote

My back yard. Seriously, those guys run through our yard all the time. My wife even nicknamed one "Justine Beaver".

Had one get hit by a car nearby a year ago... At first I thought it was a Great Dane sized dog, but then realized it was a beaver... Didn't realize they got so big!

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RisingPhoenix92 t1_j895639 wrote

Mass Audubon Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, we saw and took pictures of a few beaver dams and they were out and about swimming around when we were there last year

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superhappymeal t1_j8ayqdj wrote

I have seen beavers while kayaking on Ipswich river.

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canadacorriendo785 t1_j8ggw12 wrote

Late but there's beavers in the smaller pond at the Catmount State Forest in Colrain. I hike a lot in Western Mass and Southern Vermont and that's the only place I've ever seen them. I'm sure there are some places I don't know about though.

Park at the bottom of S. Catamount Road and hike up the hill. You'll come to a small pond on the left hand side of the trail before the path to the larger pond splits off. There were beavers there the last two times I was there.

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