North American Beaver: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Life in the Water · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A beaver can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes, hiding from land predators and reaching food stored under the ice.
2. The largest known beaver dam, spotted on satellite images in 2007, is 850 m long.
3. Beavers slap the water with their flat, scaly tail to signal danger. The tail also stores fat.
4. Towards winter, a beaver lodge is often plastered with mud that freezes to the consistency of concrete.
5. Beavers are plant eaters, not fish eaters: they munch bark, twigs, roots, buds and leaves.

The quiz

1. How long can a beaver stay underwater?

• Up to 2 minutes
• Up to 15 minutes (correct)
• Up to 5 minutes
• Up to 45 minutes

A beaver can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes.

2. How long is the largest known beaver dam?

• 240 m
• 365 m
• 1,500 m
• 850 m (correct)

The largest known beaver dam is 850 m long.

3. Why does a beaver slap its tail on the water?

• To signal danger (correct)
• To catch fish
• To cool down
• To attract a mate

Beavers slap the water with their tail to signal danger.

4. What does the mud on a beaver lodge become when it freezes?

• Soft like a sponge
• Thin like ice
• As hard as concrete (correct)
• Loose like gravel

The frozen mud has the consistency of concrete.

5. Which of these do beavers NOT eat?

• Bark
• Fish (correct)
• Leaves
• Twigs

Beavers are plant eaters: bark, twigs, roots, buds and leaves.

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