The beaver also can prop itself on its tail when sitting up or gnawing on a tree. Because a beaver's front teeth grow all the time, they must constantly chew on wood to keep them worn down. Beavers eat the bark, buds, stems and twigs of aspen, maple, willow, birch, black alder and black cherry trees. Grasses, mushrooms, leaves, ferns and roots of water plants are some favorites. In the fall, beavers will take small logs and carry them to their lodges, sticking them in the mud.
Beavers build dams on streams and creeks.
These dams back up water around their home, called a lodge. These dams are made of wood, mud and rocks. Besides building their lodges on streams and creeks, they can often be seen in lakes and ponds, too. Beavers have to maintain their lodges, just as we have to take care of our houses or they slowly fall apart. Because of the moving water, beavers must repair the lodge, especially after heavy rain or melting snow.