I wrote about beavers a little while ago. It should be no surprise that there are beavers living around the Potomac River. Where I frequent in Great Falls, VA, there are always signs of beavers. Until the past summer (2019), I hadn’t seen any actual beaver construction. That is different now. In Great Falls, VA there is a perfect example of a beaver dam and lodge.

Beaver’s are large bodied rodents. Their short legs are not good for running. As a result, they evolved to live mostly around water. Their large flat tail is like a giant rudder. Few predators are stronger swimmers than a beaver. Beavers alter their habitat to make ponds for protection from predators, increase growth of food sources, and sometimes food storage.

Beavers build dams to flood an area and create a large pond. As a result, they have a large safe area to live. Beavers forage around the pond. They may stay relatively close, so they can scurry back to the water for safety.

It is unusual to see a beaver out in the middle of the day. My dog ran right past this one. I watched it for quite a while. It wasn't afraid nor bothered by my presence.

Where do Beavers Build Dams?

First, they assess the area for food sources. Next, they assess the topography of the water flow. Finally, then pick the easiest place to build a dam. This is usually where the water flow narrows. The dam blocks the water flow. The result is a pond. You can think of the pond as the beaver’s yard. Somewhere inside the yard, is the beaver’s den.

Before the beaver dams was built, this area was a creek. At any given time there could be a few inches to a foot of water. Because of the dam, there are several feet of water now.