Beavers: How and why they build dams

In this episode of our short educational video series, 'Beavers', we explore the iconic beaver dam!

Beaver dams are strong, living structures, industriously made by weaving together wood with vegetation, stones and mud from the water bed.

Did you know that during periods of high rainfall, beavers can create notches in their dams to prevent them from breaking, and create overflow channels on either side of the dam which beavers can enlarge when needed.

We're delighted to have worked with @wildintrigue to produce these videos.

Thumbnail photo credit: Dr Emily Fairfax

[DexterG-]

As President of all beavers, we thank you for standing in for us

[peterderidder]

I had hoped to see how those beavers start building a dam !!

[YaMumsSpecialFriend]

It would be interesting to study their potential effects and impacts, positive and negative, if introduced to Australia.

[bigonegeorgegrace]

I'm enjoying this series but I think you are wrong to credit the beaver with "making notches in the dam" during storms. I'm pretty sure its the increased water pressure during a storm that makes the notches.

[GedTV]

"that we are now sadly experience due to the climate crisis"

There is no such thing as a climate crisis in 2024. Climates change naturally, and slowly over time.

[ryancreamer]

She means well but these are destructive animals. You don’t want these things anywhere near a civilized world of water flow and drainage. She can keep her crisis wherever she is, she probably helped create it.