Full Beaver Moon Happens This Sunday

You may have noticed the Moon waxing over the last several nights. In fact, it was shining brilliantly on my way to work this morning just after 3 o'clock. The Full Beaver Moon happens this Sunday morning, November 17, at 10:16. Unfortunately, there skies will be mostly cloudy late Saturday night and Sunday as a frontal system approaches from the West.

November's Full Moon is so named because this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze to ensure a supply of warm Winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for Winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.



During the late 1800s, beavers were almost hunted to extinction by the white trappers and traders, because the beaver pelt became a very fashionable wardrobe accessory, especially for men's top hats in Europe and in New England. Since that time they have greatly increased in number and in the amount of damage that they cause during the building of their dams and dens.

Are you aware that a single beaver may chew down hundreds of trees every year as he continuously builds and repairs his lodges and dams? The beavers do provide habitat for other animals such as ducks and otters, but they can also cause unexpected large-scale floods.

Over ten years ago in the Washington, D.C. tidal basin, where many of the famous ornamental cherry trees bloom drawing tourists from all over the world, a family of beavers moved into the "luxurious digs." The beavers were noticed as soon as they began downing cherry trees to build their lodges. The National Park Service Rangers quickly set live humane traps and moved the family of pesky beavers to another area where the trees were not as famous or rare.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans in what is now the Northern and Eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

As far as our weather goes, today will feature sunshine mixing with high clouds and temperatures in the middle 50s. Tonight will become mostly cloudy and not as cold with lows in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Early clouds will give way to sunshine tomorrow with a high in the mid-to-upper 50s. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with some light drizzle or a sprinkle or two by afternoon with a high near 58 degrees.

Have a good weekend.

Paul