International Beaver Day

 Today is International Beaver Day!

Beavers are mammals native to North America and Eurasia. In fact, they are considered the national animals of Canada. 

They are members of the rodent family. They are the second biggest rodents on Earth, as they can weigh up to 110 pounds. They are closely related to gophers, kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice. They are also nocturnal but can be active in twilight. Beavers form families kind of like humans, with monogamous pairs. Beavers have their kits in the spring or summer, taking about 3-4 months to gestate. 

Beavers are known for their big buck teeth, flat scaly tails, and their love of building. They are semi-aquatic animals, living regularly on land and water (their back feet are webbed). But the thing beavers are most known for...is building dams. They love building dams. Building dams are a beaver's life. It's why in pop culture; beavers are portrayed as construction workers and associated with industriousness. They don't just build dams for the heck of it, they do it to create ponds for them to live in.

Beavers construct their dams from mud, tree branches, rocks, and vegetation. They also use a substance called castoreum, a substance that is generated from special glands to help mark their territory. Beavers are also known for their incisors, which constantly grow throughout their life. Examinations of their brains have shown that they are rather intelligent critters. 

Beavers predominantly live in fresh waters, like lakes and ponds. They also prefer wider slower streams and don't like areas that flood a lot. They are primarily herbivorous, but they can adapt to various environments by eating barks. They also are known to cache away food for the winter. 

Beavers are known as a keystone species, as their activities can have a major impact on their environment. They create wetlands, which can help purify water and prevent soil loss. Other animals like muskrats and otters have been known to shelter in beaver lodges. Their presence can increase the amount of salmon and trout in the area. They can be as seen as nuisances by humans, as they can wreck crops and even roads. Beavers have also been known to attack humans in defense of their territory, or if they have rabies. 

So yeah, beavers are fascinating creatures. And they are an important part of maintaining biodiversity. They're pretty neat. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!