Baby Eurasian beavers, Finland

© Danny Green/Minden Picture

Two hungry baby beavers. International Beaver Day

Behold the mighty beaver, nature’s engineer. They fell trees with their massive orange incisors, using pieces of it to build two main structures: the dam and the lodge. A beaver uses a lodge to hide from predators, store food, rest, and protect their offspring. The entrance is built at a low level so that when beavers construct a dam downstream, it partially floods the lodge—adding an extra element of protection. This underwater entry is no problem for beavers, as they can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. Their paddle-shaped tail helps them swim, and they also use it to slap the water’s surface or the ground to warn other beavers when predators appear. Let’s salute these marvellous mammals today on International Beaver Day.