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What has webbed feet like a duck, scales on its tail but is furry and weighs about 80 pounds?

Hint: it is North America’s largest rodent that has made its home at the Coleto Creek Reservoir – an American Beaver.

While a lot of people haven’t heard of a beaver in Texas, Capt. Bill Guy, 78, of Victoria, swears its a beaver – a fat one at that – that lives on the banks of the reservoir.

How does he know? The tell-tale-tail, he says, is about as long as its body and is flat like a pancake.

“I’ve seen the tail, so I know it wasn’t a nutria,” he said. “I know what a nutria is because I was born and raised in Logansport, Louisiana.”

“They use that tail to work with, just like they use their teeth. You’ve heard the old adage ‘work like a beaver?’ It’s because they’re always busy. They’re rigged up for the water,” he said.

Guy, who wears a brass belt buckle that bears an image of an anchor, has been fishing for bass and catfish on the Coleto Creek Reservoir and its tributaries since it was built 25 years ago. Back then he said, “It was just a little old creek. You could jump across it.”

Although nature’s logger has evaded Captain Bill’s camera, its existence isn’t unlikely.

“We’ve never seen any... but that’s not to say that there couldn’t be. We saw our first badger this past year and we’ve never seen badgers here before,” said Wilfred Korth, chief ranger at the Coleto Creek Reservoir.

The reservoir and its tributaries make a perfect habitat for the animal, providing ample vegetation and muddy banks in which they can burrow to make their den.

“I wouldn’t be surprised by the beaver being present. We know that otters occur in that area. Wherever otters are present, you can almost guarantee its going to be suitable for beaver,” said John Young, a mammologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife in Austin.

A flat broad and hairless tail is the biggest characteristic to look for when searching for the rodent.

Beaver populations were once one of the most wide spread animals in the country when early settlers traversed North America in the late 1700s. Their numbers were severely reduced because of the pelt trade.

Today, Young says, their population has recovered. “Everywhere they were at one time, they have returned.”

Beavers range in size, being anywhere from 28 to 70 pounds on average, so 80 pounds wouldn’t be unheard of, he said.

“I guess you could say they’re like people – sometimes there’s a bigger one out there.”

Christina Burke is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6516 or cburke@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.