Beaver Dam
@teamfreak16 (43602)
Denver, Colorado
December 12, 2017 6:16pm CST
My girlfriend and I often walk down to the creek behind the place we are staying. The other day I realized that I was looking at a beaver dam that wasn't there before. And it's growing by the day. So today I took a photo.
Beavers live in lodges that require two to three feet of water level to keep the entrances from being blocked by ice. When the water is too shallow, such as is the case with our little stream, the beaver has to build a dam.
Beavers use logs, branches, sticks, bark, rocks, grass, mud, leaves, and plants to construct their structures.
The largest beaver dam in the world is located in Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, Canada, measuring 2790 feet in length.
Beaver dams provide flood control, biodiversity, and filter water (the soot that collects at the dam is like gold to farmers,) as well as erosion control.
I've linked to a short (about two and a half minutes) PBS video showing a family of beavers building a dam.
Unfortunately, we have yet to see our beaver in action. In fact, we haven't seen him at all. But there is a nearby good-sized branch that he's been nibbling on.
I'm hoping to see him and get a photo if possible. Until then, here is his dam in the making.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
Watch the full-length program at http://video.pbs.org/video/2365243455/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=pbsofficial&utm_campaign=naat_covefullprogram (US Only)...
12 people like this
13 responses
@JudyEv (382104)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 In the YouTube clips they seem to work during daylight. You'll have to stake him out one day. 
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Dec 17
@JudyEv - We went down earlier, as it was getting dark, but still didn't see him.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I think he might be working at night. I really want to see him, though.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Dec 17
Wow, that is cool to observe as you go for a walk
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I'll try to remember to get a picture of the log he's been gnawing on.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77184)
• Philippines
13 Dec 17
That would be interesting to see a beaver.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
They are definitely fun to watch. I've seen them once in awhile while mountain biking.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77184)
• Philippines
15 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 We don't have beavers here. Hope you'll share a picture when you see one again.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Dec 17
@toniganzon - Oh, that's too bad. They are very cute.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Dec 17
That's really cool. I hope you get to see the beavers. I've only seen beavers at Seaworld and maybe the Zoo?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 Yay hope he comes up next time!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Dec 17
My girlfriend saw him yesterday morning, but didn't have a way to photograph him. We're going to go down there early and try to see him. I will have my phone ready.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Dec 17
@infatuatedbby - I hope so. It's been about 20 years since I last saw a beaver.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
13 Dec 17
How are you adjusting to your new digs? I enjoyed the info on why beavers build these dams, good stuff. Looks like your taking advantage of the Colorado nature.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Dec 17
@dgobucks226 - Today, yes. Other days, no.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
Oh, we're all settled in. Now we just need to find an affordable van or truck that will fit our needs.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
14 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 Great, happy to hear it! Getting a bit cold to bike I guess?
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
13 Dec 17
That is so cool that you can watch the progress everyday. I watched a documentary one time showing how much they help our environment.
The sad thing is that people still hunt them, and I think that should be against the law.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I know. Why somebody would hunt a beaver is beyond me.
3 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8765)
• United States
13 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 I know, it makes me mad this happens.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169477)
• United States
13 Dec 17
It is interesting to just open our eyes and see what else lives around us. I think you did a great job of explaining the beaver dams.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
Thank you. You're right. There's so much cool stuff out there if you keep your eyes open.
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
13 Dec 17
"But you're a beaver, you can't move into an apartment block.'
"Frankly my dear I don't build a dam"
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
20 Dec 17
@teamfreak16 a pun on the last line spoken by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind, "Frankly My Dear I don't give a damn."
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
That's funny. What's that from?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86713)
• United States
13 Dec 17
Dam! 
That's amazing. I love to see things like that in nature.
That's amazing. I love to see things like that in nature.1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I know. Once while mountain biking, a friend and I saw an otter.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Dec 17
I hope you get that photo. That is one huge dam in Canada!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Dec 17
I know. I wonder how many beavers and how long that took to build.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122169)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13 Dec 17
Beavers are incredible animals.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Dec 17
Beavers are common around here. the dens are huge and amazing.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I used to live near a creek when I lived in Denver. A beaver lived there, and would start putting on a show if he noticed that you were watching him.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Dec 17
That would be cool to see a beaver in the wild.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 17
I've seen a couple. They are really cool.
1 person likes this
