The lodge is the major source of escape, resting, thermal, and reproductive cover for beavers. Lodges may be surrounded by water or constructed against a bank. Water protects the lodge from predators and provides concealment for beavers when traveling to and from food gathering areas and caches. On lakes and ponds, lodges are frequently situated in areas that provide shelter from wind, waves, and ice. Damming large streams with swift, turbulant waters creates calm pools for feeding and resting.
Beavers are herbivores.
During late spring and summer their diet consists mainly of fresh herbaceous matter. Beavers appear to prefer herbaceous vegetation over woody vegetation during all seasons if it is available. Woody vegetation may be consumed during any season, although its highest utilization occurs from late fall through early spring when herbaceous vegetation is not available. The majority of the branches and stems of woody vegetation are cached for later use during the winter. Winter is a critical period, especially for colonies on streams because they must subsist solely on their winter food caches.