Baby Eurasian beavers, Finland

© Danny Green/Minden Picture

Saluting beavers. International Beaver Day

Behold the mighty beaver, nature's engineer. They fell trees with their massive orange incisors, using the wood to build two main structures, the dam, which creates a pond in which they can build their living quarters—the lodge. A beaver uses a lodge to hide from predators, store food, rest, and protect their offspring.

The lodge usually has an underwater entrance—an extra element of protection from predators like wolves and coyotes. This underwater entry is no problem for beavers, which can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. Their paddle-shaped tails help them swim, and to slap the water's surface or the ground to warn other beavers of danger. Let's salute these marvelous mammals today on International Beaver Day.