"CANADA'S (BEAVERS') GOT TALENT"

Beaver (North American) - 8 Photos

Some may question why a country would have a large rodent as their national symbol, i.e. the Canadian Beaver.

Setting large orange teeth aside, the beaver is said to be the only other mammal who can engineer their own environment. Their dam constructions have been studied to understand their make up and why, for the most part, can withstand strong currents and water flow. And, of course, all construction is a combination of natural materials located within the beaver's environment, without the use of motorized heavy equipment. Beaver power substitutes for that equipment and the engineering skills are passed on from parent to offspring.

Beavers function as a family unit, with older siblings assuming some of the responsibility looking after their younger siblings by a year. And from the time the youngsters are old enough to venture out of the beaver lodge, it's all paws on deck with regard to food gathering & construction.

So here's a small collection of photos of one particular beaver family.

Photo #1 through Photo #5 are candid close-ups of some of the family members.

Photo #6 is the mother beaver hauling a fallen tree back to the pond and floated back to the lodge. You can tell it's Mum because of the mammary glands protruding from her chest. 

Photo #7 is one of the youngest beavers, most likely born early Spring 2026. I assume he/she is one of the youngest because of his/her reaction navigating the icy pond. This may have been one of the first experiences.  Having completed the first step of pulling out from the water onto the ice, it was a matter of testing the slippery ice surface with some trepidation. What could be more Canadian than an ice skating beaver.

Photo #8 is a tender moment between mother beaver and one of her youngest. This small beaver had already twice tried to approach one of his/her older siblings who was chewing on a floating branch. Unfortunately, he/she was greeted with a splash down. And it happened a second time with the identical reaction of being chased under the water, even though he/she had brought food. Someone definitely wanted "alone" time.

But this time, the youngster was greeted with a soft nose to nose caress from Mum and then allowed to share her branch, with one beaver at either end. 

In addition to all the above, beavers through their water management techniques are one of Nature's eco-warriors in combating climate change. 

Beavers definitely qualify for wildlife's "Canada's Got Talent". 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8