On the way home, I spotted something making its way across a cornfield, toward the creek. At first I thought it was a raccoon - the size was about right, but the carriage was wrong, so I pulled over to watch.
Once I had stopped, the animal paused, then turned and started making its way toward me. I then realized what she was, and I got out of the truck to try to at least get her picture from a distance. Which was completely unnecessary, because she actually came up on the road to meet me.
I started getting a little nervous, because I don't speak beaver and had no idea what her intentions were. But she simply stopped and posed a few feet in front of me, then turned and headed back to the creek line.
I've lived here all my life, and that was the first beaver I've ever seen. I think it'd be kind of cool if more of them started turning up here - it was most definitely the politest wildlife encounter I've ever had. :)
