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Nature's Best Dam Engineer!

Beavers are often referred to as nature’s best dam engineers, a well-deserved title. Although not often seen because of their nocturnal lifestyle they are very much at home in Oakland County, sometimes thriving just a few hundred feet from busy roads. With those thoughts in mind, I quickly agreed last week to a request from my friend Lucy Clucas at Turtle Creek Farm in Waterford Township to share information about beavers with a visiting group.  FYI: Turtle Creek Farm is a private educational facility that is not open to the public for drop- in visits. 

Turtle Creek has multiple trail cameras monitoring a beaver lodge on its property. Photos in this blog show images of beavers taken from those cameras. The other photos are from my farm visit last week.   

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Beavers are masterful at damming creeks, felling trees and building lodges.  They are crepuscular creatures meaning they are most active from dusk to dawn but on occasion they may appear in daylight hours.  

Beavers are semi-aquatic mammals and are the largest rodent of North America.  Adult beavers usually weigh 45-60 pounds. They are well known for being nature’s ultimate architects building structures that last.  

The sharp teeth of beavers are used to fell trees used to build dams that create ponds and construct sturdy homes called lodges. Mud is included in their construction projects.

The water surrounding the lodge gives them a layer of blogprotection from such species as coyotes.  The teeth also enable them to feast on the cambium layer of a variety of hardwood trees; as well as cutting branches into manageable size sections.   

Beavers live in close-knit family groups, are strictly nocturnal, and  known for their ability to topple trees, dig underwater canals, and build dams and lodges. They are looked at as a “keystone species”; which is a species that has a significant role in an ecosystem that usually benefits other species.  When they build a dam, the nearby habitat and water levels change.

Those changes almost always have a positive effect on other blogcreatures.  I recall seeing a goose nesting on top of a beaver lodge at Highland Oaks County Park many years ago and a few years ago a beaver felled trees on my property at the edge of a marsh.  One tree that was heavily gnawed but never fell eventually became and remains a home for woodpeckers.  

When beavers are about two years old, they are fully grown and set off on their own to find sites for a new home; which was the case for the appearance of the beaver lodge at Turtle Creek a few years ago.  There is nothing haphazard about their planning and construction work and their site selection was ideal, being on private property.   

Coinciding with the development of the foundation of the lodge is the creation of an underwater passageway that leads into the center of the lodge.  The underwater entrance reduces the chances of exploration or threats from such creatures as coyotes; and bears where they are found well north of us.  And of course it also protects from overly curious humans! 

Tree felling can be risky behavior and there are documented cases of a tree coming down on beavers.  Usually however, all goes well and the beaver steadily gnaws away while propping its self-up with its broad flat tail.  

The beaver’s tail also propels them through aquatic habitats.  When sensing danger, a beaver will slap its tail sharply against the water, something I once saw and heard at Florence Lake on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s South Manitou Island. The danger sensed by the beaver was my not so stealthy approach to the edge of the shore.  

Another unique feature of beavers is a second set of eyelids known as a nictitating membrane; that acts like built in swim goggles!  Their ears and nose can close while underwater - they can remain under water without coming up for air for up to 15 minutes. 

Their large incisors continuously grow but are kept at length by the near constant gnawing action to fell trees and cut them into manageable sections.   Webbed hind feet serve to complement its extraordinary swimming ability. If I was to be asked what is one of the coolest creatures to be found in Oakland County my answer would quickly be beavers!

Oakland County Parks staffer Jonathan Schechter is an avid “nature-embracing” hiker who follows phenology - the study of natural cycles of nature’s way - to inspire his blogs.

Past The Wilder Side Blog Posts

Oakland County Parks Blog Posts

Fresh Air, Fun Adventures: Outdoor Activities for Beginners blog

Spending time outdoors is a great way to reduce stress, clear your mind and work on your physical fitness goals. Even a short while outside can have a positive impact on your day. 

Oakland County Parks offers numerous ways to help you stay active during all four seasons, including walking, jogging, cycling, archery, disc golf, fishing, playgrounds, pickleball, swimming, golf and kayaking. There’s something for everyone, and you don’t need advanced skills or expensive equipment to explore all the beginner-friendly options.

Read the Beginner Activities blog post

National Pollinator Month blog

June is National Pollinator Month! We often think only about the beneficial relationships of pollinators, which receive food while plants get their pollen transferred for reproduction.

Evolution is an unthinking natural process that doesn’t care about fairness, though, which has led many species to evolve cheats or tricks — some downright amazing! 

Read the Pollinator Month blog post

Summer without limits: Your guide to accessible recreation in Oakland County blog

When the summer sun starts to shine and temperatures heat up, everyone naturally wants to head outside for fun activities and special memories. Accessible parks and adaptive recreation programming make the Oakland County Parks (OCP) welcoming for all guests.

Read the Summer Adaptive Recreation blog post

Spring is salamander season! blog

If you’re hiking the parks this time of year on a rainy day, look for salamanders crossing the trails. Oakland County Parks boasts at least eight species of these amazing amphibians. They will range in size and color, including spotted. 

Read the Salamander blog post

Rooted in History, Growing for the Future: Celebrating 60 years of Oakland County Parks

For 60 years, Oakland County Parks (OCP) has been providing recreation experiences for residents.

group gathered with Oakie in the OC Commission room

Before we knew it, six decades passed and OCP’s 17 parks emerged as essential resources for health and community connection across all corners of the county. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, OCP will host several special events for the public to enjoy, including Oakie’s Birthday Bash from 5:30-8:30 p.m. July 24 at Independence Oaks County Park.

Read the 60th Anniversary Proclamation blog post.

Something to Tweet About! Oakland County receives Michigan Bird City recognition

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Michigan Audubon designated Oakland County as the first Bird City Michigan Community of Natural Resources in 2026! By focusing on bird habitat restoration and protection, engaging the public, and ensuring these efforts are as sustainable as possible, the county is restoring much of its 7,000 acres of parkland into natural sanctuaries that benefit more than the health and well-being of residents – they also provide thriving habitats for local bird species!

Read the full Michigan Bird City recognition blog post

Discover Adaptive Recreation around Oakland County

adaptive recreation

Beat your cabin fever with an outdoor adventure! Oakland County Parks (OCP) offers a variety of Adaptive Recreation programs for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Read the full Adaptive Recreation blog post

Chill out at Fireworks and Flannels!

waterford oaks

Enjoy two days of wintery fun during this year’s Fireworks and Flannels celebration at Waterford Oaks County Park. Kick off the weekend’s festivities with the Light the Night Flannel 5K Friday, Feb. 13 and return Saturday, Feb. 14 for Cozy Night Out, an evening filled with winter activities.

Read the full Fireworks and Flannels blog post

The Beaver Brief

natural resources

A critter that cuts down trees with its teeth sounds like a fantastical, made-up creature, but beavers really are native animals that make their home in Michigan. They are the third-largest rodent in the world, averaging about 40 pounds but occasionally weighing more than 100 pounds!

Read the full Beaver Brief blog post

Two Oakland County Parks earn Old-Growth Forest Recognition

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Parts of the forest at Independence Oaks and Addison Oaks county parks have received an Old-Growth Forest Recognition from The Old-Growth Forest Network.

Read the full Old-Growth Forest Network blog post

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