Evidence of beaver on the Laurel Creek Trail

Along the Laurel Creek trail, outside of Hot Springs, NC,  evidence of beaver was common. 

Fresh beaver foraging:  the sap was dripping!

It didn't really seem like a good beaver area; the river there is wonderful and diverse, passing over rocky boulders as well as meandering through pools.

But beavers are there, perhaps creating dens along the edges, as sometimes they do.

They were chewing on the side branches, too...