COLUMN: Watch for November's beaver moon

     Did you know that November’s full moon is known as the “beaver moon?” It has also been called the “frost moon,” “freezing moon,” and, if the last full moon before the winter solstice, the “mourning moon.”

     People have used full moons to help keep track of passing months and years and to plan hunting, fishing, planting, and harvesting activities for thousands of years. Names given to each month’s moon are often based on plants, animals, and weather that are significant and cyclical to that month.

     The beaver moon was aptly named because it coincided with the time of the year fur traders in North America began concentrating on trapping beavers for their thick, valuable, and highly sought-after pelts. These furs were as good as currency between the Native American societies, fur traders, and the French and English trading companies. Beaver felt hats drove a profitable business for the North American fur trade leading to the expansion of the United States into the interior portions of North America. History buffs will find many interesting tidbits when reading about the role beaver played in the history of the United States and Canada.

     Due to over-trapping, beaver populations in many states were at an all-time low by the late 1800s, with beavers in some central and eastern states, including Iowa, considered extirpated. Today beavers are back and in Iowa can be found living in most rivers and streams across the state.

     Beavers are considered natural engineers and amazingly create dams and domed lodges out of sticks, logs, stones, and mud. They do not hibernate but instead store branches with leaves intact using nature’s underwater refrigeration. When hungry for a winter meal they simply swim out of their warm lodge and retrieve their cached food. Beavers do not eat the inner wood of trees but instead eat the leaves, twigs, buds, and bark.

     Beavers can be very beneficial and are known as a keystone species, increasing wildlife diversity by creating vital habitat for both plants and animals. In many areas, people are using beavers to help bring back wildlife and improve water quality. When allowed to build wetlands by creating dams, beavers can improve water quality through reducing rapid runoff, slowing floodwaters, increasing infiltration while filtering out pollutants through the aid of beneficial riparian plant populations, slowing and stabilizing soil erosion, and aiding in stabilizing water tables.

     Full moons always bring an air of mysteriousness and fill our minds with fascination and wonder. This year’s full beaver moon will occur after Thanksgiving on Monday, Nov. 30. Head outside to enjoy the view. Moonrise begins at 4:56 p.m. on the eastern/northeast horizon.