Nature

Beavers in Tierra del Fuego, February 2008

In 1946, twenty-five pairs of Canadian Beavers were brought from Canada and introduced in Tierra del Fuego. The Castor canadensis was going to lay the base for a new fur industry. But the pelt turned out to be unsuitable. In Canada wolves and bears are the natural enemies of beavers, but these predators are absent in Tierra del Fuego so the beavers continued to expand their territorium, crossing the Chilean borders. Today their population is estimated to be 55,000 individuals - even double that number according to Wikipedia While beavers are carefully being reintroduced in The Netherlands, they have become a plague in the south of South America. They cut trees to construct their dams, and they feed on the vulnerable beech trees (Nothofagus sp.). Beavers grow about fiveteen years old in the wild.

Beavers become actif at the end of the day, and leave their colony which hosts on average five animals. At the end of the afternoon I departed with Juan, the owner of our hotel, who knew the location of an active colony some 45 minutes driving outside town.

You cannot tell the difference between male and female beavers.

Beavers can stay under water for about fiveteen minutes.

Trees big and small are used to reinforce their dam.

When swimming, their nose sticks out of the water and is being used to scan their environment.

Once in a while one comes to land to feed on grass and other vegetation.

Beavers are always on guard. In case of danger they will warn the others by hitting the water's surface with their tail, then the animal will dive under.