Book 4, Question 59
Why Do Beavers Build Dams?
A dam makes a beaver pond! Deep, still water hides the lodge door from land hunters. It also lets the family swim to their food in winter, under the ice.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- Beavers build dams across streams to make a pond.
- In the pond they build a home called a lodge.
- As the dam holds back more water, the lodge entrances end up underwater, where only the beaver can reach them.
- Deep pools behind dams give animals shelter from predators and a place to store food.
- Beaver dams made of twigs and branches can help restore streams and lower the chance of flooding.
- Some ranchers who once saw beavers as pests now welcome them for the water they keep on the land.
Sources: National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, BBC, NASA
Questions kids ask
Why is a beaver lodge door underwater?
An underwater door keeps predators out, since only a swimming beaver can get in.