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Why are there beaver babies at Matthaei Botanical Gardens?
Beavers are known as "ecosystem engineers" because their dam-building activities create wetlands, which support diverse plant and animal life.
The two baby beavers, known as kits, are born in the spring after a gestation period of about 105 days, usually around late April to early May.
Beavers are semi-aquatic mammals, meaning they are adapted to live both in water and on land, with webbed feet and waterproof fur that helps them thrive in their environment.
The presence of beavers at Matthaei Botanical Gardens is significant as they have not been seen there since the gardens were established in 1907, marking a rare return of this species to the area.
A beaver's diet primarily consists of bark, cambium (the soft tissue that grows under the bark), and a variety of aquatic plants, which they harvest primarily from willows, aspens, and cottonwoods.
The construction of a beaver dam can significantly alter the landscape by flooding areas, which creates new habitats for various species while potentially disrupting existing ecosystems.
Beavers have a unique adaptation called a "valve" in their throat that allows them to chew and carry wood underwater without drowning, showcasing their remarkable anatomical design.
The beaver's ability to fell trees is due to its powerful incisors, which can grow continuously throughout its life, necessitating constant gnawing to keep them from becoming too long.
The dam-building behavior of beavers has been shown to improve water quality by trapping sediments and filtering pollutants, making them important contributors to healthy aquatic ecosystems.
Beavers communicate using a variety of vocalizations and tail slaps, which can alert other beavers to potential danger in their territory.
Interestingly, beavers have been implicated in mitigating climate change by promoting carbon sequestration through increased wetland areas, which capture and store carbon dioxide.
When beavers build a dam, they create a pond that can stabilize water levels, which benefits other wildlife by providing consistent water sources and habitats.
Beavers are social creatures, often living in family groups called colonies, which typically consist of a monogamous pair and their offspring from the current and previous years.
The lifespan of a beaver in the wild can range from 10 to 12 years, but in protected environments or under ideal conditions, they may live longer.
Beavers are primarily nocturnal, which means they are most active during the night, making them less visible during daytime hours.
The arrival of beavers at Matthaei Botanical Gardens can be a double-edged sword, as while they contribute to biodiversity, their damming can potentially flood trails and affect human-managed landscapes.
Beavers are known to modify their environment in such a way that enhances biodiversity; their wetlands can support amphibians, fish, birds, and various plant species that thrive in saturated soils.
The historical range of beavers once spanned most of North America, but their populations were drastically reduced due to fur trapping and habitat loss, leading to their current protected status in many areas.
Beavers have a unique ability to sense changes in water levels, allowing them to repair and maintain their dams efficiently, which is crucial for their survival.
The recent arrival of beavers at Matthaei Botanical Gardens may provide an opportunity for ecological study, as researchers can observe their impact on local ecosystems and learn more about their role in promoting environmental health.
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