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what do beavers look like

How they use their tail

Beavers use their tails for various purposes such as:

·       For notifying others about imminent predators.

·       To balance their body in dry lands, so that they don’t trip while carrying heavy loads with their teeth.

Beavers’ teeth

Their teeth are of prime importance. The length of the upper incisors varies between 20 to 25mm. The presence of iron in the enamel of the tooth makes them incredibly strong and funnily the color of their teeth is orange. The growth of teeth is a gradual process and takes place throughout their life-cycle.

Where they live

One of the prime requirements for their survival is water. Hence, they choose their habitat around marshy lands such as freshwater lakes and ponds, swamps, rivers, etc. The American varieties are found all over the continent except in the deserts and the snowy regions of Canada. Though the Eurasian variety lived all over the two continents, rampant hunting of them has restricted them to Scandinavia, Germany, France, Poland, and central Russia.

What beavers eat

Their ability to digest cellulose helps them to eat leaves, roots, and bark. These herbivores have often been seen eating certain aquatic plants.

How beavers build their homes

They create dome-shaped homes called lodge, using mud, grass and sticks. The lodge measures up to 8ft in width and 3ft in height. They’re built to clear the water level. There are two compartments in their lodges, one for their living and the other one for socializing.

Interesting Facts About the Beaver

Though most people know what beavers are, and that they build dams, that is about as far as their knowledge goes. Learn some amazing facts about these creatures below!

·       Tall Tail – That strange tail has a few important uses for a beaver. When swimming, it works as a giant paddle to propel the animal through the water. The tail is also great at forcefully slapping the surface of the water to create a loud smack. This sound will both surprise potential threats and alert other beavers of danger.

·       When in Doubt – Rather than sticking around to see if their tail slap scared the predator away, beavers simply hide beneath the water or in their dam. A beaver can hold its breath for up to 15 minutes, and is a powerful swimmer.

·       Remarkable Chompers – It is no surprise that a creature that chews down trees has some powerful teeth, but did you know that a beaver’s teeth continue to grow throughout its entire life? In fact, if they do not chew on trees, their teeth will actually keep growing so much that they cannot bite on anything.

·       The Beaver Family – There are two different species of beaver, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. As the name suggests, the North American beaver lives in North America, and the Eurasian beaver lives in Europe and Asia. There is also a third, extinct species of beaver that lived several thousand years ago in North America.

Difference between otter and beaver

Shape:

An otter can be described as a cute creature that looks similar to a seal. It has smooth fur elegant body, a tiny head, and small ears.

The beaver’s face is more structured, making it look like a giant rat. It has a large head, hair covering its cheeks, and two incisors that extend from its mouth.

While both animals are good swimmers and have webbed feet, their tails also differ in shape. Beavers have flat tails, while otters have long muscular tails that are more like a paddle.

Diets

otters primarily hunt fish and other aquatic animals, such as crabs and crayfish. They may also eat small birds available in their environment.

On the other hand, beavers are herbivores feeding on leaves, twigs, fruits, and barks. They supplement their diet with aquatic plants.