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| Doris holding Mickey |
Doris and Mickey are not just a local story but a national story. Doris Forbes and her family lived close to a nearby creek. In the 1930's they found a lost beaver kit and took it home. The beaver kit took to the family and Mickey lived with the Forbes family all his life. He lived in the house like any other pet and went into they yard as he pleased. They had a supply of water for him and found lots for him to eat. Mickey was a tourist attraction.
Red Deer also had a very prolific writer, Kerry Wood, who wrote on natural history. Kerry Wood wrote the story of Mickey and the beaver. In the early 1950's a school anthology was put together for gr. 4 or 5 to teach the reading program. In other words the story was included in a "reader" that was used across Canada. So the story of Mickey and Doris was well known all across Canada. Mickey the Beaver was one of my favorite stories and I read it many times when I had finished my work.
The statue is located quite close to the area where Doris Forbes lived.
What an interesting story and statue. And it is so cool that you saw a beaver on your ride.
ReplyDeleteThere are many beavers here but this guy had a path across the bike trail.
DeleteRed , I enjoyed this story and the pictutes of ghost # 10. That was pretty ironic that a beaver ran in front of you on that day !
ReplyDeleteKind of a surprise.
DeleteHow cool! I can't imagine a pet beaver. And obviously there are still distant beaver cousins lurking close by.
ReplyDeleteYoung animals will attach to a human and they think they are humans and not beavers.
DeleteWonderful story and sculpture! I have never heard of anyone taming a beaver..but it sounds like a great pairing:)
ReplyDeleteWell, it's not really taming. Very young animals will attach themselves to a human and that's it . They think they're human.
DeleteAnother grand statue. The story is even better.
ReplyDeleteTrue story.
DeleteWhat a pretty story about the beaver and so funny you saw one in reality. I like the sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI just gave a brief synopsis. The full story is amazing. That's why I read it many times as a kid.
DeleteThat would have been the ultimate ending had you captured the photo of the beaver out on your ride. This story I found most interesting and am now going to check out the book. Great post Red.
ReplyDeleteThat ending would have been realy cool. there was another beaver in the pond but he didn't come very close.
DeleteI never heard this story, so I'm glad you told it to me. And what a coincidence to have that beaver say hello to you on the same day. Maybe it was REALLY a ghost. :-)
ReplyDelete...a relative of Mickey anyway!
DeleteWhat a nice story! And you saw a Beaver! What are the chances of that!!
ReplyDeleteHere the chances are great. You don't have to look very hard to find beavers.
Deletewhat a cool piece of local lore! and to be made into a grade school reader - very cool! loved that you saw a beaver afterwards!
ReplyDeleteIt's something that's stuck with me all my life.
DeleteSweet story. There's something compelling about beavers. They're so industrious.
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty cool engineers. Their dams are very accurate. They get them in the exact right place.
DeleteWhat a sweet story!
ReplyDeleteI would have taken the beaver crossing as a 'sign'. :)
Was funny as some little kids came by and the wet trail was still there. They were pretty excited.
DeleteGlad they made a statue as a memory for many children down through the generations.
ReplyDeleteIt will certailny keep the story alive in this town.
DeleteExcellent story, Red! I think I would call the beaver crossing a sign!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Well, I hope it's a good sign. Beavers are very common in town here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun story! I love that this real story was part of a reader for school children. The beaver running in front of you is still a neat part of the story even without the photo.
ReplyDeleteAmazing sometime how wild animals and people can interact. I would never have guessed a beaver could do that....:)
ReplyDeleteMore than almost.. it was indeed a fine, serendipitous moment. I don't remember the story of Mickey but I wonder if that's how the beaver became our national animal symbol.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tough time for a lost beaver. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about critters and cameras!
I keep missing a yellow butterfly I cannot ID. I sat in the field with the camera and a billion mosquitoes yesterday and missed it still. I came up behind me and soared over my head into the swamp. sigh.
Cheers from Cottage Country!