After a few weeks of bitter cold, it is nice to feel spring in the air on the Bethany trails! This weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings Time in Connecticut (and all states except Arizona and Hawaii). On the second Sunday in March, clocks spring forward by one hour, meaning more daylight hours in the evening (and more opportunities to get outside after work!). As we move into spring, the days naturally grow longer, and this time change helps us make the most of that extra daylight by shifting it to the evening hours. This practice, which has been observed in the United States since 1918, aims to make better use of natural daylight during the summer months by moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. As we adjust our clocks, it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the trails, taking in the sights and sounds of nature awakening from its winter slumber.
North American beavers remain active throughout the winter months, adapting their behavior to survive the cold! They do not hibernate but instead rely on a stored cache of food, typically branches and sticks, which they collect in the fall and store underwater near their lodges. This allows them to feed on these stored supplies when their ponds are frozen over. As March arrives and the weather warms up, beavers emerge from their lodges more frequently to find additional food. They may cut more trees and shrubs, and if available, feed on acorns or other nuts on the forest floor. This period coincides with the end of their breeding season, which typically runs from late January to March. Be on the lookout for
baby beavers, known as kits, in May or early June. Bethany is home to active beaver colonies at Mendell’s Folly and Veteran’s Memorial Park, making these areas great spots to catch a glimpse of these little ones.
Happy Hiking!
~Ali Beres-Nork
Beavers doing their thing at Mendell’s Folly
One of the three beaver lodges at Mendell’s Folly
