Even in the winter time, beaver ponds are active habitats. The harvested trees and brush attract other wildlife like deer and turkey to feed. The lodges themselves provide warmth for the beavers and other rodents, such as mice and muskrats. The North American beaver has seen a resurgence in the last 100 years after being trapped to near-extinction by European settlers.
In this month's episode of Outdoor Radio, conservation biologist Steve Faccio joins Kent McFarland and Sara Zahendra on a frozen beaver pond in Pomfret, Vermont. Together they explore what winter is like in an active beaver lodge and dam. They venture on the ice looking for the beavers' winter stash of food hidden in the snow.
Beavers are North America's largest rodent. Discover why beaver-tails tend to shrink during the course of the winter and learn how these amazing animals spend their time huddled together in these warm lodges.
Find more about North American Beavers at these sites:
- View a map of beaver observations in Vermont and report your own to the Vermont Atlas of Life on iNaturalist.
- Learn more about North American Beavers with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife fact sheet.
- Read the Best Management Practices for Nuisance Beavers from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept.
- Watch a video about how Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept uses Beaver baffles to control water levels for ponds near roads and homes.
Outdoor Radio is produced in collaboration with the Vermont Center For Ecostudies.
