Although beavers are a native species to the UK, they were hunted to extinction in the 16th century. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland helped return these amazing animals to Scotland in 2007, at Knapdale in Argyll. Today, about 1000 beavers are living in over 250 places around Scotland!
Beavers are ecosystem engineers. They construct clever dams in rivers, designed to create deep water where they build their lodges. These watery homes are perfect for protection against predators.
Beavers build from natural materials in their woodland habitat and can even fell trees by gnawing through them! They don’t waste anything, eating the bark and the vegetation and using the trunk and branches for their construction work. The dams can help create new wetlands, restore native woodlands, and benefit lots of other species such as dragonflies, otters, and fish. That’s why beavers are known as ‘ecosystem engineers’!
Challenge yourself to beating the beavers! Can you create a watertight dam? Follow the instructions below to find out how…
What you will need:
- A tray (needs to be watertight)
- Foraged materials (such as twigs, leaves, rocks, grass and mud)
- Water (to pour)
How to build your beaver dam:
- To make the beaver dam, must first forage for the materials outside.
- In the middle of your tray, create a strong dam with things you found.
- Top tips: Fill any holes with mud and use branches to make it strong!
- Pour water into one side of the tray and see how long it takes for water to pass through the dam to the other side. Beavers don’t quit so have another go if you see a way to make it better!
- You can make it a competition if in a group- the most watertight dam wins!
Share your beaver dams with us by using #DiscoverLearnPlay