The reasons I love this shot so much...
This was the first good wildlife shot I got on this trip. We were in northern California on the Kamath River. I got up early to fish and was floating around the river in our blow up kayak when I saw a river otter splash- forget fishing.. get me my camera.
I went back and got my Camera and searched unsuccessfully for the otters. After an hour of floating I spotted a beaver family. Another hour of stealth and the beavers led me to their den and I was able to get this shot. It was so cool, beavers were swimming around the boat; I have never been this close before. The surprise of seeing the beavers, the successful stalking of them, and then the final money shot. I love this picture for the image and for memory.