The sky at twilight was cerulean blue, void of clouds and speckled with faint stars. A full yellow moon was hovering above the horizon. A chorus of spring peepers sang continuously, filling the air with high-pitched, ambient noise. The temperature was cool but comfortable. My wife and I were lured outside by the beautiful weather, but also by the possibility of seeing wildlife. There are many creatures that become active as day turns to night. We were hopeful that we would be lucky enough to see a few critters that evening.
On that night there was also the year’s first supermoon – a fairly common occurrence in which a full moon coincides with perigee – the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to earth. There are usually four or five supermoons each year. When the moon is closest to earth, it exerts its strongest gravitational pull. We thought this astronomical event might influence the behavior of the local wildlife. As many people know, there seems to be a correlation between full moon events and strange behavior exhibited by animals (as well as humans). With the addition of a greater gravitational pull, it might bring about some fascinating observations. We hiked to a local pond in hopes of finding treasure.
In the fading daylight we walked silently towards the pond. When we were within fifteen feet of the small water body, I saw a beaver swimming at the surface. It was rather far away but it was headed directly towards us. Before we knew it, the beaver was milling about the front end of the pond, putting on quite a show. Suddenly, another beaver appeared, perhaps coming to see what its companion was doing. Then a third beaver arrived, then a fourth, and then a fifth! There were five beavers paddling around the pond at once! Never before had we seen so much beaver activity in one place!
What was causing the beavers to be so active? I am willing to bet that the supermoon had something to do with it. The moon is famous for exerting a gravitational pull that causes the tides. But it also provides something that is immensely influential on the behavior of animals: light. Light is a limiting factor for many creatures. When there is more of it, many nocturnal animals tend to be more active. A bright moon can create opportunities for feeding, mating, and traveling. From wildebeests roaming the Serengeti to fish in the Great Barrier Reef, animals around the world take advantage of a full moon’s rays. The beavers at our pond seemed to be utilizing the extremely bright supermoon, but for what exactly? Finding food? Finding a mate? Perhaps a bit of both.