Autumn is a season full of changes, and this is no different regarding beavers at our Dorset Beaver Project site. As Project Officer for our Dorset Wildlife Trust Beaver Project, I have been lucky enough to observe the glorious autumn colours that have recently cloaked the land, but also the change in behaviour of the beaver family in our project site.  

As temperatures begin to drop and the days grow shorter, a lot of herbaceous and aquatic plants that the beavers have been feasting on throughout the summer tend to die back. This is when beavers start to feed more on trees (see previous Beaver Blog). Not only are the beavers feeding on more of this woody vegetation during autumn, but their instinct also drives them to or store this food source in preparation for harder times ahead. 

Willow is particularly favoured by beavers and the food of choice to fell and cache, with branches readily harvested under the cover of darkness. Harvested willow branches are collected and dragged into the water where the beavers cache them in a woven underwater pile. This pile is usually located close to the entrance of their lodge where these nocturnal mammals sleep and rest during daylight hours.   

Trail camera footage has indicated that the whole beaver family at the project site (two adults and two kits) are participating in this behaviour, with the adults doing the bulk of the hard work as the younger generation learn their trade and start to follow their instincts. 

In the colder months, like a lot of us humans, beavers tend to be less active and spend more time in the lodge, conserving vital energy. Having a food cache of willow branches nearby is effectively like sleeping next to the fridge - not a bad energy saving strategy!

Did you know?

Beavers have 4 permanently growing incisor teeth. The soft dentine material on the back of these teeth erodes faster than the hard enamel on the front, helping to maintain a sharp cutting edge whilst gnawing trees.

To learn more about Dorset's beavers, take a look at the Dorset Beaver Project page.