Beaver — facts for kids
Castor fiber
The beaver is Sweden's best builder. With its teeth it fells trees by the water and builds dams that turn a stream into a small lake. It works mostly at dusk, when the shore is quiet.
Field notes
How big?
Like a large cat, but far heavier
How heavy?
About as heavy as a school child
What does it eat?
Bark, twigs and water plants
When can you see it?
In the evening, as the light fades
How big is it?
Beaver is about 35 cm tall, but nearly a metre long with the tail.
Look for this
Tree trunks gnawed to a sharp pencil point, and piles of branches in the water.
How it sounds
A hard SPLASH — the beaver slaps its tail on the water to warn the others.
Fun to know
- A beaver's teeth grow all its life and are kept sharp by the bark.
- It can hold its breath for fifteen minutes under the ice.
- The dam it builds becomes a home for frogs, fish and birds.
Questions kids ask about the beaver
Vad äter du?
Bark, kvistar och vattenväxter. Jag gillar asp och sälg allra mest.
Varför bygger du dammar?
För att göra vattnet djupt. Då kan jag simma till min hytt utan att någon ser mig.
Hur länge kan du vara under vattnet?
Femton minuter! Jag har ögonlock som är genomskinliga, som simglasögon.
Try it right here
Meet the beaver for real
At places across Sundsvall, Sweden, the animals stand in their real spots. Come within ten metres and the beaver comes alive in the phone and answers children's questions. The trail is in Swedish.