HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

Photo by Cliff

Before we get into today’s entertaining Wild Fact, I wanted to take a minute to honour our great Country as well as the soldiers fighting for our freedom.  While I was in Ottawa last weekend I stumbled across a service for a couple of our recently fallen soldiers. I paid my respects and carried on my way but I haven’t been able to shake the sound of the trumpet bleating over and over in my head.  I wanted to thank all of the soldiers who have fought for our Country.  Without their courage and commitment, Canada would not be as strong, unified and free as we experience it today. So on Canada’s birthday I wanted to send out a heartfelt THANK YOU for everyone who has helped shape our Country and for those who have fought to keep it free.

Okay, onto other important matters. Canadians everywhere are celebrating Canada’s birthday today so in honour of Canada Day I am writing about our beloved Beaver! Nothing says Canada like the beaver, eh? After this I am going to play a game of hockey, eat a poutine, watch a terrible Canadian TV show and then apply a little bit more water to my igloo.  Please note that I am just making fun of the Canadian stereotypes, eh.  Although, I do have a craving for poutine now!

It seems like I have been talking about rodents this week and today is going to keep that trend alive.  That’s right, Castor canadensis, better known as the beaver, is actually a large rodent.  Let’s take a second to talk about the two prominent features of the beaver.  I am of course talking about their tail and their teeth.  We will start with the tail which just might be one of their most important body parts. They use their tail as a rudder and a propeller while swimming.  If you have ever startled a swimming beaver than you know they also use their tail to warn other beavers. The famous Beaver tail slap sends a loud noise above and below water warning all beavers in the area that danger is lurking. When they are hunting for trees on land they will use their tail to balance them while they are walking on their hind feet.  This gives them the ability to carry sticks, rocks and mud with their front paws.  When they are not walking around the beaver will use its tail to prop itself up while sitting.

The teeth of the beaver are just as fascinating.  One of the qualities of being a rodent means their incisors never stop growing.  The front of these teeth are hardened with a special orange enamel. As the upper and lower incisors are ground against each other they become razor sharp which obviously gives them the ability to cut down large trees.  In fact they are so proficient at this that an individual beaver may cut down as many as 216 trees in a single year. If the beaver feels like gnawing on twigs in the water than they will use their specialized lips to seal off their mouth behind their teeth.  This way they can still eat but not get a mouthful of water.

Beaver Fast Fact – The second toe on the hind feet of the beaver is double clawed. These two claws will come together and act as a set of pliers which they use for grooming their coat. They actually have a built-in comb!  I am telling you, beavers these days come with all of the extras.  I bet you will be able to hook your iPod into them soon enough.

Well I am off to enjoy Canada Day!  Have a great day everyone.