Full ‘Beaver Moon’ to Fall in November, and It Will Be the Last Supermoon of the Year—What to Know

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In November, Americans traditionally turn to turkey, stuffing and gravy, pumpkin pie, and even butternut squash soup to satiate their seasonal cravings. In the past, many American colonists in the winter turned to, among other things, beavers for their warm, thick pelts.

Beavers also make preparations of their own in November. As the frost sets in and the leaves yellow, dry out, and fall, beavers whittle down wood and prepare their dams for the cold months. Historically they were hunted—and all their work was for naught.

Colonial Americans and Native American tribes fittingly named the full moon in November in honor of this industriously busy rodent. Noticing the beaver’s seasonal habits, they dubbed the lunar month of November the “Beaver Moon.”

This year, the full Beaver Moon falls on Nov. 15, and it’ll loom larger than usual. As the moon reaches its point closest to Earth, called the  perigee, it may appear up to 7 percent larger than normal. This phenomenon gave rise to the term “supermoon.” This year’s full Beaver Moon will be the fourth and final supermoon of 2024.

Beavers are known to build their dams in November in preparation for winter, and so the lunar cycle in November was traditionally dubbed the "Beaver Moon." Shutterstock/Sameer Neamah Mahdi

On Nov. 15, watch the Beaver Moon rise in the east just before sunset. Minutes after rising, the full moon will reach peak illumination at 4:29 p.m. EST. You’ll notice that nights arrive sooner and grow longer as winter draws near. Nov. 14 and Nov. 16 will present a similar lunar spectacle, though the moon won’t technically be full.

Monthly lunar cycles have traditional names that stem from Colonial, Native American, and European cultures. November’s full moon also has many other traditional names besides Beaver Moon that allude to the season. These often denote animals, the cold weather, or human activities in late fall.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Tlingit tribes called this moon the Digging or Scratching Moon, evoking scenes of animals foraging for fallen nuts or green shoots, or perhaps burrowing their dens for hibernation. The Dakota and Lakota tribes called it the Deer Rutting Moon, as November is when deer mate; while the Algonquins called it the Whitefish Moon because this is when whitefish spawn.

The full Beaver Moon will reach peak illumination just before sundown at 4:29 p.m. EDT, on Nov. 15. Shutterstock/Victor Maschek

Denoting the frigid air, the Cree and Assiniboine peoples call it the Frost Moon while the Anishinaabe tribe calls it the Freezing Moon.

As November takes us closer to the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, a moon moniker derived from astronomy sometimes unseats all the above traditional titles. Celtic tradition termed the full moon nearest to the solstice the Darkest Depths Moon or Mourning Moon. This usually falls in December, but November’s full moon occasionally fits the bill in rare instances where it’s closer to the solstice.

One special distinction the Beaver Moon has over these nominally Celtic occasions is that the former denotes the whole lunar month, while the latter points to just the full moon.

Days before Thanksgiving, set aside thoughts of oven temperatures and cooking times per pound of turkey and take a moment to contemplate the beaver. Take a relaxing stroll to your local corner store or Aldi to buy breadcrumbs or rosemary. Breathe in the evening air around sundown and gaze east toward the Beaver Moon. As you imagine our long-departed ancestors’ winter woes, take a moment to be thankful.

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