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.
Related Images
Baby giant panda in the snow, China
Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Polar bears at play in the Arctic
Polar bear with cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
American black bear cub in spring, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Giant panda eating bamboo, Chengdu, China
Polar bear cubs playing, Kaktovik, Alaska
Polar bear mother and cubs, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Today on Bing
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, British Columbia
Old town of Málaga, Spain
