Beavers Build More Than Dams

Psalm 90:12
” So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom..”

Beavers are widely known for their huge constructions. However, beavers build more than just dams.

The beaver is quite an engineer. When building a dam, a beaver first rams poles into the bed of his waterway. The poles are placed on an angle to increase holding power and are then rammed into the waterway bed, thick end first. This basic skeleton is then reinforced with twigs, leaves, mud and stone. It’s not unusual for the beaver to use forked branches to further anchor his construction to trees and boulders.

One beaver dam was over 1,800 feet long, 9 feet high and 18 feet wide. It was strong enough for a horse and rider to use as a natural bridge.

Large trees brought down for use in construction are not dragged by the beavers to their project. Instead, beavers dig overland channels and float the trees to the main body of water where they are working. These channels can be 1,000 feet long.

Our wise Creator gave so much intelligence and wisdom to the animal kingdom that often we can learn some things from the animals. Rather than supporting the idea of evolution, with its claim that there is progressively greater intelligence in higher creatures, the beaver supports the idea that the Creator is the source of all intelligence.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as the source of all intelligence, You have freely given intelligence to Your creatures in ways that confound those who would deny You. Grant me more wisdom than I now have and show me, through Your perfect Word, how to use it. Amen.

Ref: Science Digest, Aug. 1983. p. 73. Image: Laszlo Ilyes, license: Creative Commons Share-Alike Attribution, 2.0 Generic.