How Beavers build a
Dam
Beavers prefer to build dams in large flat areas that will flood with plenty of desirable wood and plants near by.
Streams over 2 feet deep or that have a strong current are not usually dammed.
Native Americans called beavers ‘Little People’.
Beavers use the fir and pine trees for damming and prefer to eat the apsen, cattails and water lilies.
Beavers excavate canals in order to bring water closer to their favourite trees.
It allows them to retreat quickly back to water in danger and easily transport logs to the dam site.
These canals can reach lengths of over 100 feet long.
Beavers teeth never stop growing. Their incisors are self-sharpening because of the hard orange enamel on the front and the softer dentin on the back. As they chew the wood, the soft dentin wears faster creating a hard chisel shaped tooth.
The beavers work together taking turns to chew the trees while the other one rests. A tree up to 15cm in diameter can be felled in less than 50 minutes.
Using the canals, the beavers float the logs to the dam site a heavy to be moved on land.
Females are the most active in dam building, though the males and yearlings may take part. Most of the construction takes place at night.
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Beavers build their dams from the bottom up using logs, rocks and branches to strengthen the dam. They also utilise found and man-made objects.
Dams can be made over 10 feet high and 165 feet wide as they are constantly added to and repaired.
They cover the dam in a layer of thick mud to secure it.
Beavers use their forepaws to move mud from the river bed to the dam. They do not use their tails to pat the mud down, contrary to popular belief.
The lodges are well of mud and sticks, b breathe fresh air the put mud on the pea ventilation shaft.
In the winter if you get close enough to a beavers lodge you’d be able to hear them inside and see their breath escaping from the peak.
All lodges have an entrance and an escape tunnel. These go underwater so they won’t be spotted by predators. In the autumn they gather food and store it underwater so that when the pond freezes over in the winter, they can access food without leaving the water.
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Beavers build dams to create a large pond for their home - the lodge. Being slow on land makes them vulnerable, but they are excellent swimmers which makes the pond a safe environment.
By Emma Davidson and Becca Lettice