NOTICE: This geocache will be archived and removed in early October 2020 to make room for some new geocaches to be published soon.
This cache was launched at the 2019 Phragmites Removal event (GC865H4). It is one of the seven geocaches that were placed for that event. The Crosswinds Cache Crew collaborated with the Wayne County Park System, the River Raisin Institute, and the Stewardship Network to work towards removing this invasive plant and raise awareness of the harm that it does to the marsh.
Castor Canadensis
Physical Description:
Castor Canadensis, or as we more commenly know them -- beavers, are primarily aquatic animals, and the largest rodents in North America. They have a waterproof, rich, glossy, reddish brown or blackish brown coat. Their closable nostrils, closable ears, and transparent eye membranes allow for their aquatic existence. A beaver's hind legs are longer than its front legs, thus making the rear end to be higher than the front end while walking.
Beaver teeth are disproportionately large (1/4 inch wide and about an inch long) and incredibly strong. This is crucial for cutting through hardwood trees like maple and oaks. These teeth grow throughout the animal's lifetime and are a necessity to their survival.
Habitat:
Beavers live in lodges built on islands, banks of ponds, or the shores of lakes. A lodge typically consists of a central chamber, with its floor slightly above the water level, and with two entrances. One entrance opens up into the center of the hut floor, while the other descends into the water.
The lodge, itself, is an oven-shaped house of sticks, grass, and moss, woven together and plastered with mud. The room inside may measure 8 ft wide and up to 3 ft high. The floor is blanketed with bark, grass, and wood chips.
Lifespan/Longevity:
Under favorable conditions, beavers will produce their first litters at two or three years of age. The average lifespan of a beaver in the wild is 10 to 20 years. While its size saves it from most predators, a beaver's lifespan can be cut short by predators, most commonly humans and coyotes. Parasites and disease also play a factor in mortality
Behavior:
Beavers usually live in family groups of up to 8 related individuals called colonies. The younger siblings stay with their parents for up to 2 years, helping with infant care, food collection, and dam building. Beaver families are territorial and defend against other families.
Beavers are primarily nocturnal. They are only occasionally seen during the day, usually around dusk. Beavers travel good distances from their homes to find food. If they find a good source, they build canals to the food source as a way to float the food back to their lodges. Logs and twigs are often stored underwater for winter feeding.
Food Habits:
Beavers eat bark and cambium (the softer growing tissue under the bark of trees). Their favorites include willow, maple, poplar, beech, birch, alder, and aspen trees. They also eat water vegetation, as well as buds, and roots. Cellulose, which usually can not be digested by mammals, is a major component of their diet. Beavers have microorganisms in their cecum (a sac between the large and small intestine) that digest this material.
When placing this cache, the abundance of trees that had been chewed down and the paths leading out into open water made it clear that beavers were at work in the area.
The cache:
The cache is a small sized lock & lock hidden along the Blue Heron Trail. It is not necessary to leave the boardwalk to find the cache.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42 05.744 W 83 26.552
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is free.
The Crosswinds Cache Crew pledge to develop and maintain quality and interesting geocaches in the Marsh consistent with Geocaching and Wayne County Parks rules and permit process. For more information on the Cache Crew and our endeavors, please visit us on the web at http://www.crosswindscaching.com and on social media.
This cache has been placed with the permissions of Wayne County Parks. Permit MVC19-13 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.