Castor fiber – The Quiet Engineer

Sometimes, nature rewards patience with a surprise. While walking through the serene Gedbootre Bos in Tilburg-Noord with my wife, hoping to spot the elusive kingfisher, we stumbled upon something even rarer: a beaver (Castor fiber).

Once extinct in the Netherlands, the beaver is slowly making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts. This gentle giant plays a vital role in shaping wetlands — building dams, creating habitats, and improving biodiversity. Its presence is a strong signal that nature is healing, even in urban edges like Tilburg.

I photographed this individual from the side of a large ditch using my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm lens. Though the image may not be award-winning, the encounter certainly was. Moments like these remind me that it’s not always about the perfect shot — sometimes, it’s about witnessing something wild, alive, and rare.

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