How do beavers seal their dams?

Actually their dams are quite leaky, but they leak slowly. Beavers want nice big ponds but they don't care if the pond is not very deep. A shallow pond, even two feet deep in some cases, is good enough. So the water pressure on the dam is fairly low. read more

Actually their dams are quite leaky, but they leak slowly. Beavers want nice big ponds but they don't care if the pond is not very deep. A shallow pond, even two feet deep in some cases, is good enough. read more

the dam is usually made in the narrowest place where it can back up the required amount of water and it has two entrances. the living space inside is just above water line with about 4 foot of floor space. this arrangement allows the beaver to have secure entrances and exits. usually one entrance will be deeper than the other and this indicates the maximum thickness of winter ice formation. read more

Beaver Dams. Beavers flood areas for protection from predators, for access to their food supply, and to provide underwater entrances to their den. Flooded areas also wet the soil and promote the growth of favored foods (Fig. 3). Beavers living on water bodies that maintain a constant level (e.g., lakes, large rivers) do not build dams. read more