See Rare Video of a Wolf Chasing Down a Beaver Across a Huge Beaver Dam

It’s a great privilege to see this rare footage of a wolf pursuing a beaver especially as it is across a huge beaver dam. Scroll down to see the full footage of this magnificent predator and its equally magnificent prey!

Watch the Rare Footage Below

Where Do Beavers Live?

This particular footage was captured at Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota, near the Canadian border. However, beavers are found in many parts of North America as well as in Europe and Eurasia. The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is also sometimes called the American beaver or the Canadian beaver.

This beaver is slightly smaller than its European cousins but is still the second-largest rodent in the world, beaten only by the capybara. They are around four feet long, with a 10-to-20-inch tail. Beavers weigh up to around 65 pounds which makes them about the same size as a medium-sized dog.

They need to live near water – this could be a lake, a river, or a stream. As they are primarily aquatic animals and have a waterproof, thick coat. Beavers are very industrious and build themselves lodges to live in. These can be on islands, on banks of ponds, or the shores of lakes.

Why Do Beavers Build Dams?

It’s a common misconception that beavers live in dams, but they do not. They live in lodges that they build out of twigs, sticks, rocks, and mud. These lodges have an underwater entrance and provide a safe place to rest and raise young.

The dam is built to hold back the water and create a pond. It is made out of trees and branches that the beavers cut using their strong incisor teeth. It is finished with grass, rocks, and mud. The dam raises the water level so that the lodge can have a safe underground entrance. This protects from predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, and, as we see in this clip, wolves.

Are Beaver Dams Good for the Environment?

Yes, beavers are considered to be a keystone species. This means that they change the environment in a way that is beneficial to other species. Beaver dams create important habitats for other creatures to live in. This includes many species of birds and fish. Beaver dams help to reduce the risk of flooding and even cut down soil erosion. They are also quite tricky for wolves to walk on!

The Normal Diet of a Wolf in North America

Wolves in North America have a varied diet, largely depending on the region they inhabit. Generally, their diet consists of large animals like deer, elk, and moose, as well as smaller prey like beavers, rabbits, and mice. They will also scavenge carcasses of other animals, as well as consume vegetation like berries and grasses.

A wolf’s diet typically includes:

1. Deer
2. Elk
3. Moose
4. Beavers
5. Rabbits
6. Mice
7. Carcasses
8. Berries
9. Grasses

It is not uncommon for wolves to hunt and eat beavers, as they are a large source of meat for them. However, it is not considered a staple of their diet, as they typically prefer larger prey animals.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Vlad G/Shutterstock.com