April 11, 2005
Monday

Sunday night I had one of the most interesting experiences of my 34 years in Alaska.
While driving down Water Street, right in front of Murray Pacific, I noticed something in the middle of the street. Thinking I was about to run over a dog or cat I stopped my car, put on the high beams and honked my horn a number of times. As the creature moved slowly towards the sidewalk I realized it wasn't a dog or cat so I pulled my car over and parked.

On the sidewalk in front of the old Rainbird Flower Shop was animal that was extremely frightened and possibly hurt. At first I thought maybe it was a sea otter because I couldn' t imagine what else it could possible be.

As passers-by began began to gather, I called the police to report that I thought there was a sea otter on the sidewalk. As more folks gathered someone more intelligent than I pointed out the creature's flat tail and said... it's a beaver.

A beaver! I called the police again claiming now that it was a beaver not a sea otter on the sidewalk. I didn't have my camera with me to take a photo to back up this story - but others including two police officers did see the beaver as did a number of people who happened by.

In the end, the beaver scurried back down a drain near Murray Pacific before Animal Control arrived.

What an AMAZING place to live!

Gigi Pilcher
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

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