This article was written by Cedar Jones, Kroening Nature Center Naturalist
As the days get shorter and the final golden leaves drift away from empty branches, we are busy preparing for winter. Seasonal changes are abundant. Shifting into this new season, take a moment to reflect on what you do to get ready for winter. What are your traditions to welcome the new season? Maybe you stock up on favorite foods. Or find a favorite fuzzy winter coat. Animals and plants in North Mississippi Regional Park are going through similar preparations. Some of the busiest animals preparing for winter are the largest rodents in North America: beavers!
Do beavers hibernate? Beavers do not hibernate during winter. They prepare a large cache of woody stems and branches to eat throughout the winter while staying active in their lodges. Once they are iced in, they cannot leave their lodge mid-winter due to the “front door” made of ice!
Do beavers eat the whole tree? How do they save enough of their food to build their lodges?
Beavers do not eat the whole tree. They eat the leaves, buds and thin layer of cambium (the growing part of the trunk that produces new bark). They leave the inner wood for constructing lodges and dams. Beavers prefer to eat tree species such as birch, alder, willow, aspen and cottonwood. As resources become limited, they gather what is available. In warmer seasons, beavers eat a diet of leaves, twigs, fruit, plant roots. These herbivorous animals eat their food “corn on the cob” style by holding branches with their two front feet.
How fast can beavers take down a standing tree? “Busy beavers” have a well-earned nickname! These professional fellers can bite through a six-inch tree in less than 15 minutes. Their self-sharpening, iron, orange teeth never stop growing, a trait of all rodents. If their teeth become too long, their mouth is unable to close all the way. Eating tree trunks allow beavers to wear down their teeth properly.
How long can beavers stay underwater? These resilient rodents have many amazing adaptations that help them thrive in their semi-aquatic homes. Beavers can hold their breath for 15–20 minutes, which is helpful for escaping predators and building homes underwater. Beavers also have a third clear eyelid, a nictating membrane, that acts as a pair of built-in goggles to help them see underwater. Additionally, their lips seal behind their front teeth, which allows them to hold and gnaw twigs while still holding their breath.
Are beavers good neighbors? Beavers are ecosystem engineers. They can dramatically change an environment to cater to their own needs – like humans! This keystone species can help other animals. Muskrats, mice, frogs, and insects utilize warm shelters alongside beavers in the winter.
Where can I see a beaver in North Mississippi Regional Park? There are lots of signs of beavers in the park! Try walking along the riverbank to look for tracks and chew marks. Visit Kroening Nature Center to see a taxidermized beaver up close in our “Nature in the City” exhibit! As an Adventure Hub, we offer many seasonal exploration backpacks for free same-day rentals. This includes animal track identification guides, snow art, fort building kits and snowshoes!
Join us for upcoming programs. Register at minneapolisparks.org or call 612-370-4844 for more details:
Noticing Nature Hike · Saturday, November 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free, ages 12+. Tap into your senses as you explore the park with a naturalist guide. Reset your mind and body, tune in to the rhythm of the season, and practice noticing nature.
Family Trail Trekkers · Saturday, November 5, 11:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. Free, ages 2-12 with an adult. Spend the morning walkin’ or rollin’ on park paths with a naturalist guide in search of nature’s treasures during this outdoor program for families that have children with disabilities. Enjoy the exploration – who knows what we may find!
Sky Me to the Moon – Full Moon Hike and Bonfire Storytelling: Saturday, November 5, 6-8 p.m. Free. Beneath the canopy of dusk, join us for a full moon hike along the Mississippi River. We’ll explore the woods, the prairie, and how a day’s end changes these spaces. We’ll sit by the fire, make s’mores and sip warm drinks. A naturalist and local artists will tell us moon stories from Indigenous and Black cultural traditions and experiences.
Moon Hike · Tuesday, November 8, 6:30-8 p.m. $3/person. ages 8+. Join a naturalist on a hike under the moon along the Mississippi River, through the woods and across the prairie. Then warm up next to a cozy campfire.
Homeschool Day: Winged Wonders · Thursday, November 10, 1-3 p.m. $5/person, ages 5-14. What makes a bird a bird? Find out by studying wings, beaks, feet and nests to discover the wide variety of bird types. Then take a guided hike to see how many different feathered friends we can find.
Release Day: Wild Survival · Friday, November 11, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $25/person, ages 6-12.
Examine the survival needs of living things and the ways animals and plants are designed to live in specific environments. Get creative with nature engineering to design and build a protective shelter. Practice fire building and cook a treat over the campfire.
Bird Watching: Fall on the Flyway · Saturday, November 12, 2-3:30 p.m. Free, ages 8+. Join us for an afternoon of bird watching along the river! Find out more about how and why birds use the Mississippi River to guide them during their roundtrip migration.
Bird Watching: Feathered Fridays · November 18, 9-10:30 a.m. $2/person, all ages. Learn about distinguishing characteristics of bird types while strolling through the park with a naturalist. All experience levels welcome.
Nature Art: Cornucopias · Saturday, November 19, 11 a.m.-noon Free, all ages. As a symbol of the harvest’s bounty, cornucopias are a great reminder to show thanks for the bounties in our own lives. Craft your own “horn of plenty” for your dining table this year using natural materials found in the park.
Opt Outside: Black Friday Fun · Friday November 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free, all ages. Choose to opt outside on Black Friday! Enjoy self-guided nature exploration with a scavenger hunt, fort building, crafts, and a bonfire. All welcome to discover nature and opt outside!
Outdoors: Tracks and Scat · Saturday, November 26, 2-3:30 p.m. Free, ages 8+.Learn how to spot the signs of local animal activity by examining the clues they leave behind. Create your own tracks and test your skills outside by searching for animal signs in the park.