NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/963498
20 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2018 Animal Architects By Monica Macoubrie Outdoor Educator, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission M y mother inspired my love of the outdoors, even if sometimes it felt like she had to push me out the door. She loved to garden, walk, and ride bikes, and she took me to nature centers and watched me climb trees. Of all the things we did together outdoors, one excursion in particular is forever ingrained into my head. My mother and I were walking along the river by my uncle's farm, and I noticed some tiny trees that looked like they had been broken off about knee high. I didn't really think anything of it, so I just kept shuffling along throwing rocks. We walked maybe another two minutes along the river and there, directly in front of us, was an unbelievably large pile of sticks and mud. I asked my mom what that pile of junk was in front of us; I remember even asking if this was the landfill (give me a break – I was 8). My mom told me that this was not the landfill, but a beaver lodge, and a pretty substantial one by the look of it. Being so young, I didn't know at the time what a beaver lodge actually looked like. I had never observed one with my own eyes. My mom told me how beavers build them with sticks and mud and use them as their home. We spent the next 15 or 20 minutes looking around the beaver lodge after that. I was so in awe of this thing that an animal had built. This beaver didn't need help from any humans, and it cut and constructed this entire house by itself, using only mud and sticks. No steel, nails, hammers or saws. In Nebraska, we have many different animals that will build and construct their own homes. From insects to birds, and even mammals, the amount of time and engineering knowledge these animals possess is nothing less than impressive. We call these special building creatures animal architects. Beavers When most of the human population thinks of animals that build their own home, the first thing that comes to mind is the beaver. Is it because their houses are just that remarkable? Or perhaps, they are more visible to the public eye than other animal homes. Beavers are semi-aquatic animals that live together either with a partner or in groups. These herbivorous rodents are one of the most famous and skilled animal architects out there. To build a home, like any good architect, they first have to find the right location. This is usually a peaceful river with shallow waters. They will then find their building materials. Beavers (opposite) construct and maintain houses called lodges. These lodges can be found in two shapes – conical (like the one above) or bank-shaped. The conical is the most recognizable shape which is usually surrounded by water. These structures modify the natural environment in such a way that the overall ecosystem builds upon the change, making beavers a keystone species. Beavers are nocturnal and are prolific builders, carrying mud and stones with their front paws and timber between their teeth. ILLUSTRATION BY TIM REIGERT air vent shaft underwater entrance/exit (at least two) underwater entrance/exit (at least two) eating chamber nesting chamber