Beavers

Beavers are native to both North America and Europe. Beavers are known for their skills at building dams in rivers and streams and then building their homes in the resulting pool. The largest dam ever known to be built by beavers was approximately 620 metres long.

Beaver homes are called lodges. Beavers build them close to their dams. Beaver lodges have mud wedged between all the sticks and stones and other natural debris to make them stay together.   

 They have rather rabbit-like front teeth, perfect for gnawing wood for their dams. Their tails act as paddles to help them swim. Beavers are actually closely related to squirrels! Adult beavers weigh around 20 kg and beaver newborns around 0.6 kg. They live around 15 years in a safe area of the wild and around 10 years in an area with lots of predators.

Beavers eat the bark and leaves of trees, grass, berries and water plants. It is disputed whether they eat fish or not. It is also disputed whether beavers  hibernate.