The burrows they create and vacate become homes for other wildlife such as rabbits, skunks, opossums, raccoons, and foxes. In moderate numbers, groundhogs prove to be very valuable. Responding to their natural instinct to stop the flow of running water, Beavers build dams with the materials available to them which usually consists of small trees of two to six inches in diameter, but could be as large as 33 inches thick. Most of the trees selected by beavers have little value as timber. Although there can be problems with the dams created by Beavers, there are also benefits.
Dams help to reduce erosion.
The ponds that are formed provide habitats for various life forms, and a place to feed and water for other wildlife. With the decrease of habitats due to human encroachment, wildlife is forced to adapt to our intrusion into their habitat. As we begin to understand wildlife, we are less likely to see it as a nuisance and we can begin to appreciate the role each animal plays when nature is in balance.