Mammal Tracks and Sign

Beaver
(Page 2 of 2)

 

DAMS AND LODGES

 
As everyone knows, beavers build dams to back up the water in a stream, and/or to enlarge an existing pond.
 

 

A beaver lodge. It is built of sticks and branches, held together with mud. The beavers then chew out a chamber inside. The entrance is under water.

 

Another beaver lodge. This one appears to incorporate some marshy materials.

 

 
Allan "bow" Beauchamp:
When I'm taking people through the bush I like to find special spots where they can see how animals really live.
This place here is special to me for some reasons, but the obvious is this dried up pond, complete with a beaver house.
Here my friends are seeing actually how it is constructed, and how it actually looks for size, and the openings.
If you are small enough and creative enough, the opening is still available to go inside and see the working home of a beaver!
-- Bow


(photo by Allan "bow" Beauchamp)

 

 

CHEWS

 
Beavers eat trees. Therefore they leave behind plenty of signs of this activity in the form of chewed and fallen trees.

 

 

A tree felled by a beaver.

 

If my memory serves me correctly, this was a Hop Hornbeam ("Ironwood") tree. Very strong teeth!

 

An area may have many trees cut down to satisfy the beaver's appetite.

 

Close-up of beaver teeth marks on a poplar tree.

 

Beavers may abandon a tree that they have almost felled, and not return to it. Perhaps they were disturbed while chewing it down, and later forgot about it?

 

 

OTHER SIGNS

 

Beavers make what are usually referred to as "scent mounds."

Here is one.

 

 
Similar species:
  • Nutria (habitat & tracks)
  • Muskrat (habitat)

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Tracks & Sign:   MammalsBirdsOther Animals      Skulls

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