Sitemaps

Why do beavers build dams Thanks2007-11-24 22:19:17

So he proceeded to a riffle (the shallow, high gradient part of the stream) and set up a tape recorder to tape the sound of the water rushing over the gravel and stones. He then set up speakers around known beaver haunts and at dusk turned the tape on.

Lo and behold when he returned the next morning he found the speakers buried under several feet of sticks, gravel and mud - thus effectively silencing the sound. The result was the same whether done along a beaver dammed stream, a large (and quiet) river or a lake or pond. The beavers always covered the speakers until they couldn't hear the sound of rushing water.

And the mystery was neatly solved! Based on experiments with both free living and captive beavers the researcher found that the sound of rushing water was as annoying to a beaver as the sound of fingernails on a blackboard is to humans. And that beavers will pile up sticks and mud in any spot they hear that sound until they can no longer hear it.

This explains in one go why beavers always pick the narrowest and most shallow section of stream to build their dams - it's because that's where the noise is. And they continue piling up sticks and mud in that spot until that annoying sound is silenced. In short, beavers build dams because they like peace and quiet.

---

to have a place to raise there young when the waters rise during the spring thaw.

---

Protection from predators and to provide easy access to food during the winter

---

they actually live in the dams- and they go out and forrage for food when the winter freezes the water over.

---

so the y can teach there young to swing in deeper water :P.. well probobly not but it is resonible

---

Duh! So they can have a place to keep their babies safe and they all need to live somewhere.