GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Move over, Groundhog Day! There’s a new rodent-centric holiday on the calendar.
Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) celebrated International Beaver Day with social media posts on Monday, April 7, calling the animal one of the most integral creatures of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Beavers are the largest members of the rodent family in North America. Due to trapping and fur trading, beavers were nearly extinct on the continent by the early 20th century, but have since made a recovery to much of their original range, according to GTNP.
“They are sometimes referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers‘ for the effects they can have on a landscape,” GTNP posted. “Have you noticed their orange teeth? Their massive incisor teeth have iron in them, making them stronger than the average rodent’s. This helps them chew down trees that they will use to build dams (to block waterways) and lodges (where their family unit lives).”
The park encourages visitors to be vigilant for beavers along the Snake River, reminding them to watch for fallen trees with bite marks near the stump. Be sure to give beavers plenty of space, and don’t touch or disturb any beaver-made structures. If a beaver feels threatened, according to GTNP, it will smack its large, flat tail on the water.
