WILD TIMES KIDS MAGAZINE - SPRING 2021 - Wyoming Game and Fish Department
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
WILD TIMES
KIDS MAGAZINE
SPRING 2021
INSIDE:
Wyo 100 checklist
What do beavers eat?
Bringing beavers to new homes
Why would humans build
beaver dams?!
ACTIVITIES | LESSONS | INFORMATION | FUN
HABITAT CONNECTION
A pair of beavers work on their lodge. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Beavers help habitat and other wildlife
Have you ever seen a beaver?
Beavers are very helpful to the
habitat and other wildlife. Beavers
create ponds by building dams
along streams or rivers.
They need a place without fast
currents to build a lodge to live
in and more underwater space
to dive to escape from predators.
These ponds also expand the area
where plants can grow along the
water’s edge. More plants means
more habitat for fish, birds, deer,
moose and many other species of
wildlife.
Beavers spend all summer bus-
ily cutting down willow, aspen and
A large beaver dam slows the flow of water. (Adobe Stock Photo)
cottonwood trees, earning them
the nickname “busy beavers!” They food for the winter. Beavers eat vers and their dams or lodges if
will stash some of these branches cambium, which is an inner layer you are near a river or pond this
underwater in their ponds to save of bark. Keep an eye out for bea- spring!
2 | Wild Times
FIELD JOURNAL
Jerry Altermatt, Wyoming Game and Fish Department terrestrial habitat biologist, observes a beaver temporarily housed in the trailer he built. Altermatt uses the trailer to keep nuisance beavers
before relocating them to other areas in the Cody Region. (Photo by Chris Martin/WGFD)
Bringing beavers to new homes
Although busy beavers are help- To watch a family of relocated beavers making the process better each
ful to wildlife and habitat, some- being released in Wyoming, scan this code year. In most cases beaver fami-
times their work does more harm lies (called colonies) are moved to
than good. a new place all together. A beaver
This is why the Wyoming Game colony has a male, female and be-
and Fish Department will some- tween two and five kits (baby bea-
times trap beavers from places vers). Beavers are social animals
they are causing problems to areas and survive better in a new home
in Wyoming they can help habi- if they are moved as a colony. The
tat. Jerry Altermatt, a terrestrial where they can do some good,” Al- Game and Fish works with land-
habitat biologist for the Wyoming termatt said. owners who would like to have
Game and Fish Department, is en- Altermatt said most beavers who beavers on their land to be sure
tering his fourth year trapping and cause issues come from private that the beaver colony will be wel-
relocating beavers in the Cody re- land where they cause problems come in their new home.
gion. The Game and Fish has been for landowners such as plugging The best time to trap and relo-
trapping and relocating beavers culverts and irrigation structures, cate beavers is in the late summer
since the 1990’s. along with taking down trees be- or early fall, finishing by the end of
“Our goal is to trap beavers out cause they cut down too many September. Biologists keep watch
of areas where they’re causing trees and build lots of dams. on beavers that are relocated to
problems, what they call nuisance As you can guess, trapping a bea- find out if the relocation is suc-
beavers, and put them in places ver is hard! Game and Fish keeps cessful.
Wild Times | 3
WILDLIFE PROFILES
North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
Range: Beavers are native throughout North America, one another for many years, sometimes for life.
and although they were trapped to near-extinction in Predators: Common natural predators of beavers
the mid-1800’s, they now can be found throughout include coyotes, otters, bobcats, wolves, bears,
Wyoming and North America except for deserts in mountain lions and large birds like owls or eagles.
California and Nevada and parts of Utah and Arizona. Beavers are classified as furbearers in Wyoming and
Size: Beavers are the largest member of the rodent can be trapped. Beavers escape from many predators
family in North America. Adults weigh an average of 45 by swimming, and signal danger to other beavers by
pounds, and have bodies that are about 32 inches long slapping their tail on the surface of the water.
with their tail adding another 11 or so inches. Food: Although beavers live in ponds and streams,
Habitat: Beavers are semiaquatic, meaning they they don’t eat fish. Beavers are herbivores that eat the
spend their time on land and in water. They live in and inner layer of bark called cambium from many trees and
around ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, streams and shrubs. Some of their favorites include aspen, birch,
nearby wetland areas. Beavers build lodges and dams willow, cottonwood and alder.
out of sticks, logs and mud. Lodges are used as shelter Did you know? Beavers are excellent swimmers and
to live in -- dams block streams or rivers to create ponds can stay underwater for up to fifteen minutes! Because
where beavers can store food and swim away from of this, beavers have special adaptations to help them
predators. Beavers know there is a leak in their dam underwater. They have a special see-through eyelid
when they hear the sound of running water and will fix called a nictitating membrane that protects their eyes
the leak quickly! and allows them to see in the water while they are
Young: Beaver pairs usually mate in the winter and swimming, just like a pair of goggles! They can also
have one litter of two to five kits (baby beavers) in the close their nostrils and ears to keep water out while
spring. The kits stay with their parents until they are they dive and swim.
about two years old. Beavers pairs usually mate with
4 | Wild Times
WILDLIFE PROFILES
Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
Range: The muskrat is native to North America and mate over time.
can be found in wetlands throughout most of the United Predators: The main predator of a muskrat is the mink,
States and Canada. which shares the same habitat. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats,
Size: An adult muskrat is 16 to 28 inches long, with half raccoons, snakes, owls and eagles also eat muskrats.
of that length being their tail. They can weigh anywhere Muskrats are classified as furbearers in Wyoming and
from 1.5 to 4.5 pounds. can be trapped.
Habitat: Muskrats are semi-aquatic, which means they Food: Muskrats like to eat cattails and other aquatic
live on land and in the water. They live in wetlands, plants. Although plants make up 95% of their diet, they
rivers, lakes and ponds. Muskrat families build lodges can also eat mussels, frogs, crayfish and small fish if
to protect themselves and their young from cold and they are having trouble finding plants to eat.
predators. These are similar to beaver lodges but are Did you know? Muskrats spend most of their time in
much smaller and made of aquatic plants like grass or the water and like beavers they can swim under water
reeds and mud. for up to 15 minutes. Muskrats can also close their ears
Young: Muskrats mate in the spring and have a litter of to keep water out while they swim and can close their
five to ten kits (baby muskrats). They grow quickly and lips behind their front teeth so that they can chew on
become independent from their parents at six weeks. roots and stems underwater without getting water in
Unlike beavers, muskrats do not stay with the same their mouth. Beavers have this cool adaptation, too!
Wild Times | 5
AROUND WYOMING Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists construct a beaver dam analog. (WGFD photo) Biologists build beaver dams, too Beaver dams, when in the right get carried into an important water for hauling in fence posts and post place, give a habitat boost for wild- source. Recently, the Game and Fish pounders, we just build it like a bea- life and improve river habitats (called has built beaver dam analogs in sev- ver: we use limbs, sod, mud and logs riparian areas). However, beavers eral places in the Lander area, in- collected from the site. Like a real aren’t the only ones who can build cluding the Mill Creek, Cottonwood beaver dam, analogs are temporary dams. Because some places don’t Creek and Little Popo Agie drainages. and can get breached if the water have good beaver habitat or beavers A beaver dam, whether analog or levels are unusually high and flowing living in the area, biologists will build real, can help a stream that might very fast. One big difference: biolo- their own beaver dams. These are only flow at certain times of the year gists use tools, not their teeth! called beaver dam analogs and they keep water year-round, which is good Over time, beaver dam analogs cre- are a tool used by habitat biologists for habitat, both in the water and ate good habitat that will hopefully at- to mimic (or look just like) natural on land, and is especially good for tract beavers. In some cases, beavers beaver dams. fish. Biologists build the beaver dam are transplanted to beaver dam ana- Beaver dam analogs work the same analogs using wooden fence posts log sites. Depending on the situation, way beaver dams do by creating pounded into the stream bed with analogs can last up to five years or ponds, slowing floodwaters, helping a mattress of willow or cottonwood until the pool behind the dam even- more plants grow around the edge limbs woven through the posts and tually fills with soil and grows lots of the stream and pond and catch- mud. It’s almost like how a beaver of water-loving shrubs and trees like ing sand and soil so that it does not would do it. If the area is too remote willows, cottonwoods and aspens. 6 | Wild Times
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Find some adventure throughout this coming year and complete as many of these fun outdoor activities as you can!
Wild Times | 7
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Busy beavers: True or false
1) Baby beavers are called “cubs.”
True False
2) Beavers love to eat cottonwood, aspen, willow and birch trees
True False
3) Beavers are social animals and survive better in a new home if they are moved as a colony.
True False
4) Beaver dams change the surrounding habitat.
True False
5) Beaver dam analogs are a tool used by habitat biologists to mimic natural beaver dams.
True False
6) Beavers are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to fifteen minutes.
True False
Answers:
65. True 5. True 4. True 3. True 2. True 1. False
LEARNING LINKS
If you enjoyed this issue of Wild Times and would like to see more, visit
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/Conservation-Education/Wild-Times
Take a listen Book to check out
“I’m proud to be a beaver” Build, Beaver, Build!: Life at the Longest Beaver Dam
By Banana Slug String Band By Sandra Markle
On the Goin’ Wild album The lodge where this baby beaver lives is protected by a long dam
that many beavers have worked to build over the years. As the kit
grows up, he helps repair and add to the family dam―and begins to
build a life for himself. Set at what is believed to be the world’s longest
beaver dam, Build, Beaver, Build provides a glimpse of beaver life.
Volume 15, No. 2 The Wyoming Game and Fish Department receives financial assistance in Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration. Under title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
Spring 2021 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimina-
Editor/writer: Ashley Leonard tion on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have
been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire
Graphic Design: Patrick Owen further information please write to: Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division
Additional editors and contributors: Owen Carroll, Sara DiRienzo, of Human Resources, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail stop: 2000, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
Mark Gocke, Grant Frost, Justin Joiner
8 | Wild Times
You can also read
