Beavers Return to North Shore Channel
Staff from the Evanston Ecology Center has “beaver fever!” They recently discovered trees with fresh chewing marks along the bank of the North Shore Channel (canal). It is really exciting for them because beavers, the second largest rodent in the world, haven’t been in that immediate vicinity for a while. They said, “Beavers’ dams help slow erosion and water downstream of North American beaver dams is cleaner.” Stop by the Evanston Ecology Center to learn more fun facts about beavers’ teeth and their habits.
The North Shore Channel is adjacent to the Ladd Arboretum and the Evanston Ecology Center. The channel is teeming with a wonderful assortment of wildlife. The Ecology Center has a board where visitors post what they saw on their visit to the area. Species spotted include fox, coyote, deer, snapping turtle, red-eared slider (turtle), mink and muskrat. Look up and you might see a heron, mallard duck, kingfisher, wood duck, 
warbler or red wing blackbird. A great indicator of the channel’s improving health is the presence of crawfish, frogs, tadpoles and insects, as these species are very sensitive to their environment.
For more information, call the Ecology Center at 847-448-8256.