BEAVERS
Mammal     -     Vertebrate      -     Herbivore

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AMERICAN BEAVER

BEAVER DAM

Beavers ...

• Are rodents
• Are nocturnal
• Feed on a variety of aquatic and shore plants, buds and roots and surviving in winter by eating bark  
• Live in ponds, lakes, rivers and marshes in North America, parts of Europe and Asia  
• Create dams in rivers and streams which provide them with still, safe water in which to build its lodge
• The family will live inside the lodge in the centre of the still pool of water
• Lodges are made of branches and mud and hard enough for predators not to penetrate them
• Have poor eyesight, but a strong sense of smell and good hearing
• Have transparent eyelids so that they can see underwater with their eyes shut

• Have sharp teeth which continue to grow throughout their life
• Must gnaw on objects to keep their teeth at a manageable length or their teeth would eventually grow into their brain
• Can hold its breath underwater for 45 minutes
• The biggest dam built by beavers is twice as long as the Hoover Dam

DAM AND LODGE

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Male  .........................................  Beaver
Female   ....................................  Beaver
Young   ......................................  Kit (newborn to 1 year)   -  Yearling (2nd year)

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

1. A colony of beavers
   
2. A family of beavers
   
3. A lodge of beavers
   

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SIMILES

1. As eager as a beaver
   
2. As busy as a beaver
   

IDIOMS, METAPHORS AND EXPRESSIONS

1. Beaver away at (something)
2. Eager beaver

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