Winter may slow many animals down, but not all wildlife disappears when the snow arrives. According to Butler County Naturalist Annette Wittrock, one animal in particular has been leaving clear signs of its winter activity across the county. That animal is the American beaver.
During a recent appearance on the Outdoors in North Iowa program on KLMJ, Wittrock said unlike many animals, beavers remain active all winter and are uniquely equipped to handle cold temperatures.
“They don’t seem to mind the cold air or the cold water near as much as we would. Really the reasons most animals hibernate are either lack of a food source this time of year or because they’re cold-blooded animals. And since beavers don’t have either of those problems, since they eat bark and cambium of trees, then they don’t have to worry about it. And if you don’t know cambium, it’s the growing part of the tree which is probably softer and easier to digest for them. And then prior to winter they’ll even stash some branches near their lodges for feeding during the winter just in case they don’t want to brave the weather for a meal. They also use logs to build their lodges of course which can be in the bank of the river.”
Even though beavers can build a warm, well-insulated home right into the riverbank, they often go a step further by constructing dams across streams and rivers. That extra effort may seem unnecessary, but Wittrock says there’s an important reason behind it.
“They want a larger and slower body of water to live in. So the dam actually slows the flow of the water in the stream or the river and provides a pond of sorts for them to use. The deeper water gives them more cover from would-be predators. The backed up water can also be good for other animals like fish, frogs and salamanders that can use this to have their young and also gives them vegetation for cover and for food. And ducks and geese, of course, like the standing water for the food source as well, provides a water source for animals like deer and raccoons.”
As winter settles in, the activity of the American beaver is a reminder that not all wildlife slows down with the cold. Wittrock says their presence offers a unique look at how animals adapt and survive Iowa winters.
Full interview below
