PHOTO, recent beaver gnawing, sap flow

Recently gnawed tree with sap flowing


Close-up of mud and sap

In the spring sap flows in trees. At night the sap is in the roots and flows to the branches during the warmer daylight hours. This is the reason maple sap is collected in the spring.

This tree was interesting for a couple reasons. You can see where the tree has lost sap due to the insult of the beaver gnawing. Also, there's some mud on the tree. I think the mud is from the front paws of a beaver leaning against the tree as it gnaws at the bark higher up the tree.