Beavers are undeniably amazing creatures, and I am always filled with wonder and awe when I come across one of their dams.
They are mostly constructed of many sizes of limbs that range from small twigs to ones up to 4 or 5 inches in diameter. Within this organized chaos of sticks are rocks, mud, grass, leaves, and other plant material. I was most surprised by the amount of river stones used and their size. Some of them were big and heavy enough to require some effort to grasp and hold in one hand.
Beavers build dams to establish a place to construct a lodge where they can live and raise a family. The lodge location, in or next to deep water, protects against predators. The lodge will have underwater entrances that provide an escape from predators such as bears, wolves, and mountain lions. Beavers will also store food at the bottom of the pond which also helps them avoid predators. They are excellent swimmers and are safer in the water because they aren’t exposing themselves on land. In addition, in areas where the water freezes in winter, the beavers will have access to food under the ice through their underwater entryways.
The dam cradles the water's side channel, creating a nursery for plants, insects, fish, birds, and other mammals that thrive in slower-moving water. Additionally, this small pond permits more water to seep into the groundwater allowing the surrounding riparian area to flourish especially during dry periods.
From what I have read, beavers can build watertight dams. At the moment, this dam holds back a significant amount of water but doesn’t completely impede the flow. Small cascades of water trickle over and through the dam creating pleasing waterfalls to listen to and watch.
Beavers are a keystone species and I am happy to see they have chosen to live around the arboretum. My intentions are to write short blog posts that inspire you (and me too!) to be out in nature and follow up with more in-depth research if you are interested in the particular topic. For me, beavers are fascinating creatures, and I am definitely off to the library to find a book to read more about them.
Nature is an inexhaustible source of wonder. I look forward to seeing you out there.
