Dr. Samantha Brennan was returning from a trip to eastern Ontario when she came upon one very busy — and oblivious — beaver.
The University of Guelph’s Dean of the College of Arts tweeted a short video of an industrious beaver lugging a huge tree branch to wherever beavers take such wares.
“On the way home from Frontenac Provincial Park we encountered the most Canadian traffic jam ever,” Brennan wrote Monday of her drive back from the park north of Kingston.
“Cars stopped so that a beaver could drag a tree branch across the road,” she said.
As you do.

The seven-second video is mesmerizing.
On the way home from Frontenac Provincial Park we encountered the most Canadian traffic jam ever. Cars stopped so that a beaver could drag a tree branch across the road. pic.twitter.com/07FWmJUSfN
— Dr. Samantha Brennan (@SamJaneB) August 16, 2021
The video was posted on Monday and quickly racked up views and comments.
Some people noticed the white SUV that cruised on by.
To be fair, the vehicle in front of us was completely stopped. The beaver refused to cross until they moved on, as if waiting politely at a four-way stop.
— Dr. Samantha Brennan (@SamJaneB) August 16, 2021
stop.
But it seemed the beaver was being, well, stereotypically polite and didn’t want to hold up drivers, according to Brennan.
Naturally, the comments were top shelf.
The scene couldn’t be much more Canadian.
Yes indeed
— Dr. Samantha Brennan (@SamJaneB) August 16, 2021
And folks couldn’t resist a joke.
Why did the beaver cross the road? Dam!!
— YYC Science Guy (@YYCScienceGuy) August 16, 2021
— Tonye Nadwornik (@CraftyTonye) August 17, 2021
LOL yep, typical Canadian traffic jam. 🙂
— David Cavers (@Kahless215) August 17, 2021
Busy little beaver 🦫 😂
— S Clark (@ShllClark5) August 17, 2021
If there had been audio, there would be an endless series of apologies heard from the drivers. “Sor-rey.” Expressed to the drivers behind them, in front of them, the beaver, the tree branch, the road, … pic.twitter.com/Y3zcs5l3pY
— Major Blackentarry (@blackentarry) August 17, 2021