September’s animal of the month is the beaver.
Beavers are most famous for their large front teeth and building dams, but did you know their paddle-like tales are a key communication tool, and they are the official state mammal of Oregon and New York? Here are some fun facts about our North America natives:
• Beavers build dams across streams to create a pond where they can then construct a "beaver lodge" to live in. These habitats provide protection from predators like wolves, coyotes, and even bears
• Their famous front teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and are orange in color due to high levels of iron in the enamel, which makes them strong enough to gnaw through wood and even chop down large trees
• Beavers slap their tails on water to indicate danger. This alerts others to seek refuge in deep water and may frighten away the potential predator
• They can swim up to five miles an hour, more than double the speed of the average human, and can hold their breath underwater for up to 10 minutes
• Beavers feed exclusively on plants, including tree bark and other vegetation on land and in the water, and even the wood from trees. Their favorites are Aspen and Willow
• Their prolific dam building and pond creation is critical in flood mitigation, as it helps control the flow of water and supports the restoration of waterways
• Beavers intentionally chop down trees allowing sunlight to reach the understory vegetation providing deadwood habitat, which are rich environments for insects, birds, bats and amphibians
If you’d like to know more about KH Child Care’s curriculum, availability, or upcoming community events, feel free to reach out on (720) 798-9097, or email Miss Kate at [email protected] or Miss Kenzie at [email protected].
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festive 4th of July for Buddy