International Beaver Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

International Beaver Day is annually celebrated on April 7. Beavers Wetlands & Wildlife (B.W.W. ), a non-profit organisation with members in the United States, Canada, and other countries, created the holiday in 2009. The beaver is a distinct and essential keystone species with a significant impact on the ecosystem. B.W.W. has made significant advancements in research and education since 1985 in an effort to raise awareness of the dam-building rodents known as beavers.

The background of International Beaver Day

International Beaver Day was established by Beavers Wetlands & Wildlife in 2009. (B.W.W.). The 7th of April was designated as the holiday’s date because Dorothy Richards, also known as the “Beaver Woman,” was born on that date in 1894. Richards devoted fifty years of her life to the study of beavers.

The word “beaver” comes from the Old English word “beofor,” which means “brown” or “bright.” Beavers are semiaquatic rodents that inhabit temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, such as Canada, Poland, Germany, France, central Russia, and southern Scandinavia. The only larger semi-aquatic rodents on the planet are capybaras. Generally, they inhabit freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. Beavers have large skulls, stout bodies, brown or grey fur, webbed front feet and hand-like front feet.

The beaver is a keystone species, which means it has a disproportionately large impact on the environment in relation to its population size. Beavers make excellent use of the trees they consume by constructing dams and lodges with the leftover wood and transporting mud, rocks, and debris. Because they were frequently hunted for their fur and flesh in the 19th and early 20th centuries, beavers nearly went extinct. There were once approximately 60 million beavers in North America, but their population has decreased to between 10 and 15 million.

INTERNATIONAL BEAVER DAY ACTIVITIES

Explore a beaver stream

On this enjoyable day, you should visit a beaver reservoir. If you’re fortunate, you may be able to observe some.

Create a humorous beaver-themed post.

Create amusing beaver-related posts and share them with your peers. Include a few beaver puns so they can guffaw heartily.

Share your expertise

There is so much fascinating information about beavers. Share this article on social media with the hashtag #internationalbeaverday for increased exposure.

5 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT BEAVERS

Canada’s national animal is the beaver.

Once, the Catholic Church declared beavers to be fish for Lent.

Typically monogamous and able to remain together for numerous breeding seasons.

The beaver works at night, transporting stones and mud with its paws and gripping wood in its teeth.

The transparent irises of beavers enable them to see underwater.

INTERNATIONAL BEAVER DAY DATES