In honor of this occasion we have some fun beaver facts for you. Check the audio, too!

Did You Know?

Beavers are considered a rodent and are among the largest in the world. They can grow up to 2.9 feet in length and weigh a whopping 71 pounds!

The beaver has thick fur, webbed feet and a flattened, scale-covered tail that functions like a boat rudder, helping steer the animal through the water.

The beaver’s teeth never stop growing. Chewing on tree trunks and branches helps keep the teeth from getting too long. A beaver’s front teeth stick out in front of their lips. That way, beavers can cut and chew underwater wood without getting water in their mouths. Beavers also have a coating on their teeth that contains iron, which helps prevent tooth decay.

Beavers are superb builders! They use their sharp teeth, strong jaws, and much of their time, building and maintaining their dams and lodges. These dome-shaped piles of branches are constructed by this mammal in lakes, rivers and streams. Beavers access their lodges through underwater entrances, which lead into dry living areas.

Fun Fact: The world’s longest beaver dam is found in Alberta’s Wood Buffalo National Park. It measures 2,789 feet long (the average dam is usually only about 328 feet in length).

As the colder months approach, the beaver will spread a thin layer of mud on top of the lodge to keep out any predators, such as lynx and wolves. 

If a beaver feels threatened, it will slap its tail on the surface of the water to warn other beavers in the area, then it will dive deep underwater to stay safe.

How does it see underwater? 

The Beaver has clear membranes over its eyes, like goggles.

What’s your favorite thing about the Beaver? Tell us in the comments section!

For more Beaver fun, print out the Bumper the Beaver pdf.

Happy International Beaver Day!