BEAVER

In North American Algonquian legend, Beaver was one of four sacred animals that were dispatched to bring back a single granule of soil with which Manabusch, the Great Hare, could recreate the world after the flood caused by the Anamagqkiu which destroyed the world. Beaver died trying, along with Otter. Mink failed in the attempt but Muskrat found a grain of sand so that Manabusch could work his magic.

In European lore, the beaver was the byword for industry – ‘to be as busy as a beaver’. Beavers had the reputation for being the source of a substance that cured all diseases; this was held in their testicles which it would bite off if pursued and cornered, so as to deprive the hunter of his prize. If it escaped and was hunted once again, it would cast itself on its back to demonstrate the uselessness of the hunt. For the Zoroastrians of Persia, the beaver was believed to be the Luck of the Rivers. To kill a beaver would bring drought to the area as well terrible misfortune to the hunter.