REBUILDING A BEAVER COLONY 13 
may have been the leading colonist, the ruler 
of the colony, if there be such a position. 
Beavers cooperate and carry out a distinct 
plan; in doing this they work both unitedly and 
singly. The whole work, however, advances 
as though to a plan and as though under con- 
stant supervision. Through the years I have 
seen beavers working hundreds of times. Their 
work is nearly always efficient and apparently 
under the direction of an expert in beaver work; 
but never have I seen any sign or signal given by 
a beaver that I could positively say was an or- 
der or command. But I see no way of explain- 
ing the magnitude of beaver works and the 
skill shown therein except through cooperation 
under an acknowledged leader. 
One evening as I was watching, a bobcat 
chased two beavers into the pond. A few yards 
farther and they would have been overtaken. 
But the instant they dived into the pond they 
were safe. 
The wild enemies of beavers are lions, bears, 
wolves, and wildcats; in fact, any flesh-eating 
animal large enough to kill one. Rarely is a 
beaver captured in water; he is a swift swimmer 
and can long remain under water. But on 
land he is slow getting into action, is not agile, 
and in going has only low gear. For safety 
he aims to cut trees that are closest to the water. 
