So is this a bad thing? Are they destroying the
habitat?
The answer is no. Beavers are part of the ever
present ebb and flow of nature. Beavers do not destroy; they create new
ecosystems which provide habitat to flora and fauna alike. This makes them an
important keystone species.
Now, I am not saying that when I walk down to the
valley I am happy to see that our stream has expanded to a pond, but instead of
taking a negative view I try to see this as an opportunity to explore a new
habitat. It is exciting to see all the species, especially birds, that have come
to call this wetland their home. Examples include Green Herons and Belted
Kingfishers.
Let us take a look at the brilliant engineering
abilities beavers possess and look on their lodges and dams with awe because it
is indeed amazing that these animals are able to accomplish so much in such a
short amount of time.
This is a photo of what we have aptly named the
Beaver Pond. You can see the Boundary Trail on the far left side. This was once
a small trickling stream amongst dense vegetation. To the right of the trail is
one of their lodges. Check out the video at the end of this blog to see what a
lodge looks like inside!
Here is a close up photo of one of the lodges
located right on the Boundary Trail. Beavers are active all winter long and are
able to access their lodges from underwater entrances.
Beavers use their strong teeth to strip the bark
from the trees which they then eat. Nothing is wasted in the building process.
The trees and branches they chew down are then pushed or carried (beavers can
carry as much as their own weight) and strategically placed to block water
flow. This creates a safe pool for their lodges; away from predators on land.
Below is a photo of one of the beaver’s newest dams,
located between the two bridges on the valley trail.
Below is the dam located near the lower parking lot
along the Boundary Trail.
Beaver tracks are easily spotted in the mud and snow
by their large webbed feet in a waddle type pattern. Webbed feet help them to
be excellent swimmers; they can even stay under water for up to 15 minutes!
With an extra set of eyelids; which act as goggles, beavers are able to see
underwater as well.
Above is one of the many beavers (at least 6 beavers
in this colony) we have here at The Woods. The best time to see them is at dusk
and dawn, though many visitors have seen them busily swimming during the day as
well.
Although they may look cute, beavers can be
aggressive and are quite territorial so be sure to keep your distance.
Especially if you hear them giving you a warning by slapping their tails
against the water!
Speaking of tails, check out this great picture
below! Beavers can reach 29-35 inches long and weigh as much as 60 pounds! Much
of their length is attributed to their tails which can be as long as 16 inches
long and up to 7 inches wide! Their broad, stiff tails are important in that
they act as a rudder as they swim and help to balance the beavers when on land.
These next pictures are a testament to how strong
the beaver’s teeth really are. With a coating of tough enamel (which makes the
teeth an orange-ish brown) the beavers are able to gnaw through pretty much any
kind of bark.
Though their primary food and building sources are aspen, cottonwood, willow and dogwood; we are seeing them fell trees such as
Eastern Hemlock, birch and beech trees here at The Woods. Once their food
source has been diminished beavers will move downstream to a new location.
Below is a beaver mount at the Montezuma Audubon
Center in Savannah, NY. You can really get a good look at those teeth and sharp
claws!
I leave you now with this wonderful video which
shows beavers constructing a lodge and even what the inside looks like! Enjoy
and be sure to come visit our beavers here at The Woods. Remember beavers are
an important part of the ecosystem and are only doing what they need to do to
survive. They really are amazing engineers!
Blog post by
Becky Williams
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