1. Tree Cutting:
- Beavers are known for their remarkable tree-cutting abilities. They use their sharp, chisel-like front teeth (incisors) to gnaw down trees and branches.
- They typically select trees and branches that are near their lodges or dams, making it easier to transport the wood.
- Beavers have a preference for certain tree species, such as aspen, birch, cottonwood, willow, and maple, due to their softer bark and nutritious inner tissues.
2. Feeding on Bark and Twigs:
- After cutting down trees and branches, beavers consume the bark, which is rich in nutrients like cellulose and carbohydrates.
- They also feed on the twigs and smaller branches, which provide them with essential vitamins and minerals.
3. Acquatic Plants:
- In addition to trees and shrubs, beavers also feed on aquatic plants that grow in and around their habitats, such as cattails, water lilies, and pondweeds.
- These plants provide them with a diverse range of nutrients and help supplement their diet.
4. Storage of Food:
- Beavers exhibit a unique behavior of storing food for later consumption. They create underwater caches or "food piles" by submerging branches and logs in deep water near their lodges.
- This behavior helps them to have a readily available food supply during the winter months or periods when food is scarce.
5. Nutritional Adaptations:
- Beavers have specialized digestive systems that allow them to efficiently process and extract nutrients from the plant materials they consume.
- Their digestive tract contains bacteria that help break down the cellulose and other complex compounds found in树皮and woody plants.
Overall, beavers are resourceful herbivores that rely on their tree-cutting skills and adaptability to obtain their food from various plant sources in their aquatic habitats.