Beaver Pups Build Tiny Dams

Beavers are known as some of the greatest builders in the animal kingdom, but who knew that beaver pups (or kits) were so cute?! They’re like the world’s most adorable construction workers! Baby beavers don’t start working on dams until they’ve developed a little, waiting until they’ve spent about a month in their lodge to venture out. At this point, they start helping to maintain the dam and lodge, not starting their real jobs as builders till they’ve learned all of their life skills, but once they start building, they don’t stop. Working only at night, beavers use their powerful front teeth to break off pieces of trees and then use mud, weeds, and whatever muck they can find to bond the wood into a structure capable of stopping water flow. In the resulting pond, beavers then build lodges in which they live with their families and find protection from predators. If they ever do encounter something trying to make a meal out of them, beavers will dive deep under water while slapping with their flat tail. This slapping creates a disturbance in the water that can be felt far and wide, warning fellow beavers of the danger that’s present. Showing concern for other members of their species is not a surprising trait in beavers, as they’re known to live in lodges with up to ten family members, who they recognize by their scent. Adult beavers are known to remain in monogamous pairs, giving beavers a very traditional family unit. These beaver families are pretty cute as a whole because even as adults beavers are pretty cute, but as babies, they’re at their most adorable!