Where do beavers live?
They live along the edges of lakes and rivers in wooded areas.
What is the size of beavers?
Their body length approaches 120 cm, and their tail is about 30 cm long.
What are beaver homes like, and where do they build them?
The beaver’s main fear is that predatory animals like wolves and lynxes will enter its den and eat its young. Therefore, it builds the entrance to its den underwater to hide it from enemies. The length of the tunnel it uses to enter its den can approach several meters. The floor of the tunnel is covered with twigs and debris. It rubs off its wetness on these twigs before reaching its den. This prevents the floor of the den from becoming muddy. The inside of the den is spacious enough to accommodate the entire family and is a secure place, hidden from enemy eyes. It covers the roof of its den with sticks, debris, and mud to prevent it from collapsing. The small hole it leaves here serves as the back door of its den. When it senses danger coming from the water, or when the water freezes in winter, it uses this opening to enter and exit.
How do beavers feed?
It gnaws at tree trunks with its front teeth. It needs to work for two days to gnaw through a tree trunk that is 30 cm (in diameter). After felling the tree, it chews off the leaves and cleans the bark. It cuts the remaining wood into pieces approximately 2 meters long. When the work is done, it eats the gnawed bark. Beavers most prefer to eat the bark of poplar, willow, and beech trees.
What do beavers do when danger threatens?
While working, they leave some of their companions as sentinels to watch the surroundings. The moment they sense the approach of an enemy, they alert the others by violently slapping their tails against the water. At that point, all the beavers abandon their work and dive into the water. If the approaching enemy is a wolf or a lynx, the danger is averted. But if the enemy is an otter, the situation is bad.
How do beavers swim?
They swim by pressing their front paws tightly against their chests and moving their hind legs in the water. They also use their flat, wide tail, which is covered in scales, like a rudder while swimming. Depending on how they hold their tail, they turn left or right, and dive under the water or surface.
How long can beavers stay underwater?
They can stay underwater without taking a breath for about 15 minutes.
What are the types of beavers?
There are two species of beaver on Earth. One lives in Europe and Asia, and the other lives in Canada. Beavers used to be more numerous in the past, but the number of beavers has significantly decreased as a result of deforestation and people hunting them for their fur.
Is the beaver a harmful animal?
Aside from not gnawing on trees unnecessarily, the beaver is a beneficial animal, as the dams it builds prevent floods.
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