Beaver dam in the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho
© Charles Knowles/Alam
Beaver achievers
Don't get distracted by the awesome top half of today's photo. The postcard appeal of Idaho's Sawtooth Range is undeniable, but our focus today is on the humble structure at the bottom.
Beaver dams like this can be found coast to coast in Canada and the United States, and now is the time of year when these industrious rodents put in extra time to reinforce their dams. Listening closely for trickles of running water, they patch compromised sections with logs and mud, securing their habitat for the chilly winter. And their efforts have important downstream effects: Beaver dams help prevent floods by slowing water flows, and also filter out sediment to create cleaner streams and rivers.
Related Images
Shoreline near Tofino on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Path to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain, for the 'Game of Thrones' premiere
Mua Caves in the Ninh Bình province of Vietnam
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Rio Grande and Sierra del Carmen Mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Rajgad Fort near Pune, India
The National Wallace Monument overlooking Stirling in Scotland
The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, in Ireland
Bing Today Images
Toronto city skyline seen from Lake Ontario, Canada
Sep 05, 2024
Mount Segla, Senja Island, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Sep 05, 2023
Trans-Taiga Road in Northern Quebec
Sep 05, 2022
A painting crew puts on a fresh coat
Sep 05, 2016
