In part 1 we spoke about the special anatomy of the beaver that Hashem created them with, that enables them to be able to knock down trees very quickly and they are able to break the tree into many pieces. Now we will learn how Hashem has given beavers amazing instincts. Here are quotes from articles about beavers. Their instincts allow them to “go about their tasks like experienced craftsman” and “for it is well known that beavers are not only EXPERTS in the building of dwellings (their lodges) but they are also experts in hydro-engineering” and “a skilled hydro-engineer could not regulate the water level [of a dam] any better [than a beaver can]. Hydro means water and a hydro-engineer must take courses in college to learn how to manipulate and control the flow of water for various uses. You and I, without going to school could not be a hydro-engineer, but a beaver can do it without any schooling. That’s because of the instincts that Hashem has put into them.
What are instincts? Instincts are behaviors that are automatically done that were not learned. They are pre-programmed information that tells them how to do things that, for our purpose we will say, are built into the creature’s brain (DNA). A perfect example of an instinct would be the spider’s ability to spin extremely complicated web structures without ever having seen it done beforehand! How is that possible? The answer is that Hashem put all the information of how to carry out that function into their minds (Their DNA/genes). Instincts are very often absolutely amazing and it’s as clear as day that they could NEVER EVER have come about by accident. Beaver’s instincts are also a great example of this.
Hashem made it that beavers have a desire to set up a “house” (called a lodge) for their family. But beavers have many predators (animals that want to kill them in order to eat them such as wolves, coyotes, or mountain lions) that they need to escape from. Beavers don’t walk or run fast, so they are at a distinct disadvantage when moving around on land. But, as we learned in the past article, beavers were made by Hashem to be able to function extremely well under water. And guess what? Their predators DON’T function well in water. In fact, they won’t go into water at all. So, beavers stay close to water as much as possible. There’s a few advantages of their being near water. It helps so that even when they do go on land, they are very close to the banks / edges of the river. So, if a predator does show up, they will just jump into the water to escape. Therefore, to protect beavers, Hashem put into their instincts the strange desire to set up a shelter in middle of the water which will ensure their safety. But in order to be able to do this properly they first have to have the water level of the river high enough to be able to build a big enough lodge to keep their family ABOVE the water level. In strong flowing rivers this can’t be accomplished. So, the beavers look for slower moving rivers or streams that also have a sufficient amount of trees growing near the edge of the river, since these trees are going to be their food and shelter. Once they find such an area, they will go about building a dam. What’s a dam? A dam is structure that is like a wall. It will stop the flow of a river or stream. For the beaver’s purpose, they want it to either stop, or to at least considerably slow down the flow of its running water so that the water level goes up enough for them to make a big enough lodge for them to live in.
OK. So, how do you make a dam? I surely have no idea. But the beaver knows exactly how to build one. And they are as busy as beavers in doing so! (Did you ever hear that line – he’s as busy as a beaver?) Beavers will often work for 26-29 hours straight without stopping! So, here’s a basic description of what they do to build a dam. Keep in mind that they are up against running water. Usually, to start things off they look underwater for tree roots or larger rocks, or any other protrusions on the bottom of the river to use as an anchor for the initial sticks that they start off with. (Don’t forget, the beaver is able to look underwater the entire time with their protected see-through eye lids, and see what they are doing.) Then they ram strong sticks into the bottom of the stream, next to these protrusions with considerable force. (Would you have thought of that? Would you have any idea how to stop flowing water? Beavers know EXACTLY what to do.) Then they place a bunch of twigs in between the spaces between the sticks. Those are weighed down with heavier sticks and they use forked branches to hold things up and they will also use crosspieces to hold things in place. It’s also reinforced and anchored with heavy rocks. After that’s finished, all the many gaps must be filled to be watertight or else the water will leak out and slowly but surely the hole will just get bigger and bigger and eventually the whole structure will break down. They “know” this, so they fill the gaps with fine twigs and reeds and other plant material that they get from the nearby river banks. Then these materials are covered over with lots of mud or clay which will be the finishing touches to complete their work of making a watertight dam! (Very often, when necessary, at the extreme ends of the two sides of the dam, they will make the wall a little lower so that water can slowly escape from there.) The average dam in North America is from 50-100 feet long and two to six feet high! There are many dams that are much, much bigger in length and height. The beavers, using their hands and/or teeth, drag the pre-cut branches and pieces of wood from the bank of the river where the trees come from. They first eat the outer bark and the cellulose right under the bark and then the rest of the tree is cut up with their teeth and used for building the dam and their lodge home. They just keep dragging material from the river bank (or close by) to the dam area, until the job is done. A 35-foot dam can be built by an average family of beavers in ONE WEEK! By the way, beavers that were taken away from their parents at birth, and then let out into the wild at 3 years old (they are mature then) know exactly how to successfully construct a dam without ever having seen one!
Now, besides for creating the ability for the beaver to build a lodge in the water, there’s actually a huge ecological benefit from the dams that beavers build to the entire area. (Hashem killed two birds with one stone.) Beavers are considered a “keystone specie”. A keystone specie is an animal that has a very beneficial effect on its environment, out of proportion to the number of animals that created that environment. Just a few beavers from one family can make a huge beneficial effect for many animals. Beaver wetlands (wetlands are the land surrounding a river or lake) are found to effectively home 50% more species than wetlands that were not created by beavers. Obviously, Hashem had in mind these improvements as well, when giving the beaver its instinct to make dams. To be continued IY”H.
Dam holding back the water with a lodge in the background all made by some beavers.
About the Author
Rabbi Shmuel Waldman is a highly respected educator and Torah scholar, with over 50 years dedicated to the study and teaching of Judaism. His formative years were spent at the esteemed Mirrer Yeshiva, where he developed a strong foundation in Torah learning. Influenced by the profound teachings of Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZTL and guided by his close association with Rav Don Segal, shlit”a, Rabbi Waldman has become a leading voice in Jewish education and thought.
As Mashgiach of Yeshiva Mercaz Hatorah of Belle Harbor, Rabbi Waldman provided spiritual guidance and mentorship to generations of students. His book, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Convincing Evidence to the Truths of Judaism, published in 2002, remains a cornerstone in the world of kiruv. This widely acclaimed work has sold tens of thousands of copies, offering readers a clear and compelling understanding of Judaism’s core beliefs.
Rabbi Waldman has also shared his knowledge as a teacher at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe and inspired countless students through his involvement in Jewish summer camps. Currently, he is focused on writing an in-depth Sefer on the transformative power of prayer, emphasizing its importance in daily life. He has also expanded his educational efforts through a blog and YouTube channel, where he addresses topics like Intelligent Design and critiques the Theory of Evolution.
Rabbi Shmuel Waldman’s lifelong dedication to teaching and inspiring others has left an indelible mark on the Jewish community, enriching the lives of students and readers worldwide. His work continues to guide individuals on their spiritual journeys and deepen their connection to Judaism.