From
dawn to dusk, these mammals sink their teeth into their
work.
By Galina Pembroke
Remember
how much you loved splashing in puddles? Because they live
and work near water, beavers do this every day. They don’t
need to worry about getting muddy, though. A beaver’s
oily fur works like a raincoat. So mud, dirt, and water
slide off instead of sticking to him.
Super
Swimmer
Not
only is the beaver’s skin waterproof, he can stay
underwater for up to 15 minutes. Not even Olympic swimmers
can do that! And unlike humans, he doesn’t need scuba
goggles. Instead, he has invisible eyelids (under the normal
ones), that allow him to view the world underwater.
Construction
Work
But
the beaver doesn’t swim just for fun. Being in water
is part of his work, because beavers build dams—big
blocks of mud, sticks, and stones that divide water. Some
dams are almost 100 feet long! This is a lot of work. So
why does he do it? Well, since beavers have their house on the
water, they have to prepare for a flood. Dams block water
from washing away their lodge by the water’s edge.
Plus,
beaver ponds contain plenty of fresh, juicy plants. The
beaver eats these, but is also happy to share his food with
hungry ducks, otters, and visiting deer.
The
Chew Crew
There
are rarely enough sticks required to build the beaver's abode.
So the beaver solves this problem by cutting down trees.
If he didn’t do this chewing, his long, strong chompers
would continue to grow—just like our fingernails!
In
only one night, a beaver can cut down a tree one foot thick.
Since he can’t drag the entire tree to the dam, he
has to make it smaller. So he munches and crunches until
the pieces are just the right size for him to carry.
This
cute critter also uses his front paws to put the wood in
place and carry mud. The sticky dirt holds the tree pieces
together, just like glue.
After
the beaver’s dam is done, it’s time to build
a house. He also does this with mud, sticks, and stones—same
as his dam. It’s a team effort, and the whole family
helps out. That means mom, dad, and three or four beaver
children.
When
they’re done, everyone can enjoy a strong, dome-shaped
home. With no rent to pay!
