Beaver Fun Facts

Did you know ...

... that beavers are second only to humans in their capacity to manipulate the environment? By building and maintaining dams, busy beavers can completely change the vegetation, animal life, and other components of the watersheds in which they live. The ponds created by the dams are the beaver's first defense against predators like the lynx and wolf.

Beavers are built for underwater work. Their noses and ears have valves that close when beavers submerge. The beaver's large front teeth—or incisors—protrude in front of their lips, enabling them to cut and chew submerged wood without getting water in their mouths. Their broad tails function as rudders, helping beavers to maneuver large logs to their lodges and dams.

An orthodontist's nightmare, a beaver's front teeth never stop growing; beavers must gnaw, chew, and chop nearly all the time. So by keeping up their homes, beavers are also keeping down their dental bills.

Learn more about the beaver from the Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series.