Eurasian baby beavers, Finland

© Danny Green/Minden Picture

Eurasian baby beavers, Finland

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.