6 NEBRASKAland • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018
By Lindsay Rogers
I
f you have ever seen an
American beaver, you know
it instantly. These hefty rodents
are easily identified by their
large size, enormous, flat tail
and close proximity to water.
They are found across the state
from large rivers such as the Platte
and Missouri to small farm ponds.
Beavers are known for both their lodges and dams. Lodges consist of two chambers with the floor just above
the water level. Lodges often have two entrances – both below the water level – requiring beavers to swim
underwater to enter the lodge. The elaborate lodge construction consists of sticks, twigs, rocks and mud. Dams
are often constructed across small streams to ensure the water levels in the pond remain high enough to cover
the entrances.
Although all rodents have characteristically large front teeth, this trait is often attributed to beavers. These
large, orange teeth come in handy for chopping trees and logs for use in both dam and lodge construction.
Additionally, the large front incisors are used to expose a tree's cambium layer – soft tissue under the bark,
which beavers eat. Beavers also feed on vegetation, roots and buds. ■
A Mammal
Brief
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
American
Beaver
