Beaver
Castor canadensis
Image: Troy Harrison / Getty Images
When it comes to the environment, beavers are the ultimate architects. Beavers build lodges out of sticks, mud, and whatever plant material they can get their teeth on, complete with underwater entrances to keep predators (and nosy humans) out. Not stopping there, they build dams to create their own private ponds, which double as swimming pools, food storage, and fortresses.
A single family can fell dozens of trees a year, and are valuable contributors to the local ecosystem. Their dams create ponds that help fish, birds, and other animals thrive, prevent flooding by slowing water flow, and improve water quality by trapping sediment. Some of these ponds last decades, turning the surrounding area into a bustling wildlife habitat.
Image: naturecenter.org
Beaver life isn’t just about construction, though. These critters are devoted family animals, usually sticking with one mate for life. Families, called colonies, include parents and kits (baby beavers), who stick around for one to two years learning how to chop trees and build lodges.
As for dining, beavers are herbivores with a taste for tree bark, leaves, and aquatic plants. Favorites include aspen, willow, birch, and maple. And here’s the kicker: their teeth never stop growing, so they have to gnaw on wood for their dental care.
Beavers can hold their breath for 15 minutes, use their flat tails for swimming, storing fat, and even communicating by slapping water. They don’t hibernate in winter either—they stay active under the ice, proving that even in freezing temps, beavers are busy little overachievers.
Image: Americanprairie.org
We can help these furry engineers by protecting wetlands and rivers, leaving fallen trees alone when possible (beavers see them as dinner and building supplies), and supporting local conservation programs. After all, saving a beaver is basically investing in the world’s cutest construction project.