Posted by u/Tll6 14 hours ago
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I went down a YouTube and Wikipedia rabbit hole about beavers a few nights ago and their contribution to the ecosystem is immense and their ability to build massive dams is astounding. But you know what I find most interesting? The fact that they can just eat like...trees. Ungulates consuming just grass and hay seems so normal to me but a little rodent thing noshing on tree trunks feels so odd!
Aren’t they awesome? It’s amazing how they have evolved to be the way they are. There are fossils of huge forerunners to beavers the size of black bears! I can’t imagine the dams they could build
[source](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver). [This](https://statenislandbeavers.weebly.com) is information accumulated from peer reviewed, governmental, and academic sources. I created it for an assignment for my masters degree program
"They are in effect becoming an invasive species, and it’s causing trouble. In a 2016 report, scientists noted beavers moving into the Arctic labelling climate change as the probable reason. The report noted shrubs and small trees are moving into the tundra as the north warms, and the beaver following are following."
https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/05/30/climate-change-beaver-arctic-bounty-invasive-species-within-canada/
Also a great podcast outlining the northern beaver migration.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hdgSXWcWPSlBQNwnyEHZr?si=V6MfKzcnRVGTj9SupeZEdA
And they used to parachute beavers into remote areas to repopulate and have them create dams to slow erosion
[It's weird, but it worked!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrOE-m7sX9E&ab_channel=euronews%28inEnglish%29)
Two beavers are better than one
They’re twice the fun
An animal with iron teeth that eats wood sounds like some fantastical punk beast that lives in a furnace world
I originally read this as "it's intentional beaver day!" Like, okay good, we're finally doing it on purpose this time
They seem very human like with their hands
I love their little hands! So cute and intriguing to me.
Do they.... Eat the wood? Is that their diet? Or do they do that to build homes? I am dumb but curious
Both. They only eat particular parts of a tree, however. Not all the wood.
They're so cute, they remind me a bit of wombats and capybaras, all of whom I find utterly adorable too.
I love wombats!
This is probably a stupid question, but how do they not get splinters in their mouth, esophagus, or intestines?
That's not a dumb question and now I'm curious too. My sister did her PhD on beavers and continues to study them (her research is posted here sometimes) so I'm gonna pass your question to her and see if she knows. Will report back.
Hm yes big wet rat
Their butts have a gland which is used in a few artificial flavors.
Actually, it's considered "natural".
I'm so happy these are Canada's National animal. They're so freaking weird.
I *highly* recommend this charming beaver documentary from 1988. [It’s called Beavers.](https://youtu.be/YDwRmBCANvE)
“Did somebody say... wood?!”
And beaver!
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Do they ever accidentally bite their tongue?
Not that I know of! They have to sets off lips, one in front and one behind their teeth. That probably helps keep their tongue out of the way!
I used to watch on YouTube that human took off beaver dams..and the battle back and forth. Lol. They are ever clever and natural to build up dam!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDfwUJzYQg
Wooooooooo hoo hoo hooo hooooooo.
My dumb question is: if a beaver loses or breaks its teeth is it basically screwed, survival-wise?
Hmm I suppose it would depend on the break. Their teeth grow continually like other rodents so it would grow back eventually. The problem is that the teeth grind each other down to the perfect length so without a complementary tooth on top and bottom one would grow out too long and cause misalignment. It’s pretty common in pet rabbits (technically not rodents but their teeth are similar) that aren’t cared for correctly
And I’m pretty sure they have yellow/orange teeth because of the metallic properties in their teeth.
Beavers are amazing creatures, their instinct to build dams is super important when it comes to reducing flooding and creating wetland! They’re natures little engineers
That lil belly is cute.
After a heavy rain in memphis my bestie and I went for a walk and there was one just walking down the street headed to idk where first time I ever saw one in nature weirdest thing I saw that day
I’d really like to meet a beaver irl one day :-/
We have a county preserve near here we visit often. Several years ago a beaver moved in and made some major modifications to the area around the river where people normally swim. It was crazy to visit in the spring after their winter work. Last year I was preparing to make a bioactive tank for my bearded dragon so we went searching for cool driftwood and rocks. I found a short log that had been beaver chewed on both ends into a point. It’s a feature of the lizard tank now.
That’s pretty cool! I want to make a table with chewed logs as the legs one day
chomping’ champ!
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They are also incredibly orange!
So cute!!!
I see a beaver gnawing a tree. Wet and wild, running free.
Did someone say beaver!!!!
Such cute hands
*Oh Canada...*
r/lilgrabbies
Humans have high-powered tools to chop down a tree. Beaver calls it dinner: "Oak, table for 2"
This log look yummi
If you like beavers, and I'm talking Castor Canadensis, then read the book, Eager.
Please do yourself a favor and watch a video where you can hear them, the sound they make is absolutely adorable and not what you would expect (search for “JB begs for a cookie”)
Hudson makes tons of sounds when he is hungry! It’s very cute
We hold these truths to be self shrevident
No beaver jokes?! I'm seriously disappointed Reddit...
Stupid question: is 188psi a measure based on area of the jaw? Or based on area of the surface of the tooth?
Reinforced with *what*
Dude imagine being a beaver and biting your tongue...
Imagine being so adapted to your tree eating life that your teeth literally has natural iron in them, wtf beavers,
Giant Termites
Beavers and Capibaras look a-like :3
They mate with same partner for life right? How adorable!
Also.... they're ADORABLE!!
Also, beavers' teeth grow infinitely. The chewing of trees keeps this down
One time in the seventh grade we dissected owl pellets and ours had three or four baby beaver skulls
I would guess they were a different kind of rodent skull! Baby beavers are small but their skulls are definitely too big to fit in an owl pellet
Beaver?? Sounds familiar? Oh we eat their poop as a flavour commonly called ‘Vanilla’
They have built dam systems that could be seen fom space...
I want to offer him some sauce or salt or something like that.
When I get hungry and remember my mom isnt with me in the house :
Happy Beaver Day! Just noticed we have a beaver living in the park right by my house. Was able to get a glimpse of the little fella the other day on an afternoon walk. Since then I’ve noticed tons of nibbled trunks. Such fascinating creatures.
> It’s international beaver day! Also a daring pick up line.
Much more impressive with the sound turned on
That beaver looks like it has strong jaws,too.
What if he bites his lip/cheek on accident?! 😱😭
Another fun fact: beavers’ anal glands produce something called castoreum. It has a vanilla scent. That’s the artificial vanilla flavor used in ice cream. It’s listed in ingredients as “natural flavors.”
They are such cool little creatures.
International Beaver Day? I'm sure that day is marked down on everyone's calendar that lives outside of North America. They are damn cute, though.
[https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/630921621/beaver-skull-1-quality-cleaned](https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/630921621/beaver-skull-1-quality-cleaned) https://i.etsystatic.com/11822956/c/590/468/114/131/il/bbc3f9/1568387676/il\_680x540.1568387676\_dt13.jpg
“InHerNational Beaver Day”
https://youtu.be/N2PurLxfsqE Beavers are amaaaazing!
Do beavers get wasted from wood alcohol. The lodges are all fermenting and they just stay drunk all winter?