How Do Beavers Build a Dam | SLICE

the long hard winter is over spring has finally come to wyoming in the northwest united states for this young beaver it's time to build up strength following his father he has to learn all the ropes [Music] the river is calm and the dam his father built seems strong [Music] summer and winter this vast structure traps water behind it and creates a pond deep enough to build a safe home [Music] [Applause] [Music] the young beaver and his family spent the winter huddled together here in their lodge safe from the cold and hunger [Music] this year's litter has just arrived [Music] the juvenile struggles to find its place [Music] at two years old this young architect has reached sexual maturity so the eldest of the siblings is driven out [Music] it is time for him to go build his own dam and lodge for his future family [Music] his survival now depends on his ability to design and build his territory [Music] step one find a suitable building site in this vast expanse with his webbed hind feet rudder-like tail and thick layer of fat the young beaver is already well equipped for this epic adventure spanning several days or even weeks in the icy waters of snake river although he possesses the requisite physical attributes this is still unfamiliar territory [Music] luckily he comes across the remains of a dam better still built up against the bank is the base of an abandoned lodge a quick survey convinces him this is the perfect base for renovation but there's no time to lose winter is around the corner and there is still a lot of work to do [Music] especially when you're alone and inexperienced [Music] then again he already has a master carpenter's tools like these incisors which are as strong and sharp as a chisel [Music] this rodent is primarily nocturnal but sleep can wait there's a dam to build left to his own devices the juvenile beavers away night and day [Music] reproducing what he has learned he tries to make the most of the materials nature provides [Music] the young beaver still lacks practice but instinctively he adds stones to reinforce the branch framework anchored in the mud [Music] water is a demanding environment and sometimes a formidable opponent too even for this semi-aquatic mammal [Music] after two weeks hard work the structure is now complete all that remains to be done is pack mud between the branches to make it stronger and reduce the risk of leaks the young beaver has learned from his father to interpret the river's moods and he has just noticed a sudden change in the river flow [Music] at the foot of the rockies the current is formidable [Music] our young builder evidently lacked time and experience the dam gives way as he looks on helplessly [Music] [Music] it will have to be rebuilt [Music] it is late in the season now in a few months snow and ice will cover the land and river once more so rebuilding is a question of survival and giving up is not an option especially when you have to start a family before winter [Music]

Channel: SLICE

Views: 2,426,197

Keywords: Beaver, beavers, castor, dam, dams, impoundments, species, animals, family, winter, Wyoming, USA, US, wetland, wetlands, grassland, grasslands, building, build, builder, lumberjack, treecutting, lodge, pounds, river, predators, territory, snake river, trees, branches, logs, stones, wild, wildlife, wilderness, documentary, shortdocs, slice, slicedocs

Id: EgW9_2q1IoA

Length: 8min 21sec (501 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 19 2020