International Beaver Day

The beaver may be the national animal of Canada but the furry dam-building rodent can be found across the North American continent and Eurasia as two distinct species, but the population has been on the decline for several decades now.

International Beaver Day aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the plight of the rodent. So now is the time to get ready and enjoy the observance of this fun day!

History of International Beaver Day

Beavers are known for their tree-munching activities, but many people may not know that they use every bit of the tree that they fell! That’s right, they are super efficient with their use of the environment. They eat the buds, bark and leaves, before gnawing the branches and trunk into smaller pieces to build with.

The dams that are built by beavers are useful in preventing floods and droughts, restoring the northern wetlands and even helping to cleanse the water. The largest beaver-built dam is in Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta, Canada and is 850m long!

International Beaver Day is a fairly modern celebration, getting its start in 2008 when the group Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife decided a day would be useful for raising public awareness about the beaver. As a shy species, many people aren’t aware of its importance and benefit to the overall health of the environment and ecosystems where it lives. Some people even refer to beavers as “flat-tailed heroes”!

How to Celebrate International Beaver Day

International Beaver Day can be enjoyed in all sorts of creative and interesting ways that help to raise awareness and promote the plight of these clever and important creatures. Try out some of the following ideas to celebrate or invent some unique ideas of your own:

Take a Hike and Go Dam-Spotting

International Beaver Day is a great time to hike into the woods to spot some of these noble gnawers, depending on the location, of course. Take the kids and get into nature as observers to foster the love of beavers. But it’s important to remember that, while an adventure can be a great way to learn, it’s also necessary to minimize the human impact and leave nature as it was found.

Get a BWW Membership

For those diehard fans of beavers, this is the best time of the year to subscribe to the Beavers: Wetlands &Wildlife organization to show support. Memberships are available on many levels, for students, individuals, families, supporters, patrons, or even a lifetime membership option.

Get Educated About Beavers

Read books, watch videos or documentaries, do some internet research and learn as much as possible about these little flat-tailed creatures and their vital part in nature. For teachers in schools or people with kids in their families who would enjoy learning more about beavers, try out some of these kids books in celebration of International Beaver Day:

• Beavers For Kids by Patricia Corrigan (1996). This book gives information through photos, cartoons and more through the eyes of an 11-year-old child.
• Little Beaver and the Echo by Amy MacDonald (1995). A delightful story about a lonely beaver who makes some friends.
• Beavers by Deborah Hodge (1998). All sorts of information about how beavers build their dams, raise their young and much more.
• Jack: The Story of a Beaver by Shirley E. Woods (2003). Targeted toward grades 3-6, this book offers a narrative about one beaver, the dangers around him and his life in the colony.

Share International Beaver Day with Others

Let the world know about the support of beavers by participating in the day and sporting some swag at work, at school or somewhere else. One great place to get beaver supporting apparel is through the Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife organization website where shirts and hats can be purchased. Then, when friends ask about the shirt, take the opportunity to tell them about International Beaver Day.