Beaver Pond

Late afternoon sunlight on fire-managed prairie grasses and floating mats of duckweed made a striking contrast with darkening skies above this Nachusa beaver pond. Besides creating an ideal September setting for a landscape painter, the beavers impounding Wade Creek are increasing biodiversity in the preserve with new habitat for wetland plants and animals.  Widespread before European settlement, beavers were virtually extirpated from Illinois a century ago, but following reintroduction programs in the 1930s they have returned to every county in the state.

Studio painting – November.