1. Building Masters:
* Dams: Their most famous feat! Beavers use their teeth to fell trees, gnawing them down to size. They then use these logs, along with branches, mud, and rocks to construct dams, creating ponds and flooding surrounding areas. This provides them with safe access to food and a protected place to live.
* Lodges: Beavers also build lodges, which are dome-shaped structures with underwater entrances. These provide shelter from predators and the elements. They are built with logs and mud, and often have several rooms for resting, sleeping, and raising their young.
2. Dietary Habits:
* Herbivores: Beavers are strictly herbivorous, feeding primarily on bark, twigs, and leaves of trees. They have a particular fondness for aspen, willow, and cottonwood.
* Winter Food Supply: They prepare for winter by gathering and storing branches and logs underwater near their lodges, creating "food caches." This allows them to access food even when the water freezes.
3. Social Structure:
* Family Units: Beavers are social animals, living in family units called "colonies." A colony is typically made up of a breeding pair, their offspring from the previous year, and the current year's kits.
* Territorial: Each colony establishes and defends a territory, which can span several acres. They use scent markings (castoreum) to communicate territory boundaries.
4. Communication and Senses:
* Scent Marking: Castoreum, a strong-smelling substance from their scent glands, plays a crucial role in communication. They use it to mark their territory and signal to others about their presence.
* Excellent Hearing and Smell: Beavers have excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell, which helps them navigate their environment and detect potential threats.
5. Adaptability and Impact:
* Ecosystem Engineers: Beaver dams have a profound impact on their ecosystems. They create wetlands, increase biodiversity, and improve water quality.
* Adaptability: They are adaptable creatures, able to survive in a variety of habitats, from forests to meadows.
Overall, beavers are incredibly industrious and intelligent animals that play a vital role in shaping their environment. Their unique behaviors and habits make them fascinating creatures to observe and study.