the long hard winter is over spring has

finally come to Wyoming in the Northwest

United States for this young beaver it's

time to build up strength following his

father he has to learn all the ropes

[Music]

the river is calm and the dam his father

built seems strong

[Music]

summer and winter this vast structure

traps water behind it and creates a pond

deep enough to build a safe home

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

the young beaver and his family spent

the winter huddled together here in

their Lodge safe from the cold and

hunger this year's litter has just

arrived the juvenile struggles to find

its place

[Music]

at two years old this young architect

has reached sexual maturity so the

eldest of the siblings is driven out

[Music]

it is time for him to go build his own

dam and lodge for his future family

[Music]

his survival now depends on his ability

to design and build his territory

[Music]

step 1 find a suitable building site in

this vast expanse with his webbed hind

feet rudder like tail and thick layer of

fat

the young beaver is already well

equipped for this epic adventure

spanning several days or even weeks in

the icy waters of Snake River

although he possesses the requisite

physical attributes this is still

unfamiliar territory

[Music]

luckily he comes across the remains of a

damn better still built up against the

bank is the base of an abandoned Lodge

a quick survey convinces him this is the

perfect base for renovation but there's

no time to lose

winter is around the corner and there is

still a lot of work to do especially

when you're alone and inexperienced then

again he already has a master carpenters

tools like these incisors which are as

strong and sharp as a chisel

[Music]

this rodent is primarily nocturnal but

sleep can wait there's a dam to build

left to his own devices the juvenile

beavers away night and day

[Music]

reproducing what he has learned he tries

to make the most of the materials nature

provides

[Music]

Oh

[Music]

the young beaver still lacks practice

but instinctively he adds stones to

reinforce the branch framework anchored

in the mud

[Music]

water is a demanding environment and

sometimes a formidable opponent too even

for this semi-aquatic mammal

[Music]

after two weeks hard work the structure

is now complete all that remains to be

done is pack mud between the branches to

make it stronger and reduce the risk of

leaks

the young beaver has learned from his

father to interpret the rivers moods and

he has just noticed a sudden change in

the river flow

[Music]

at the foot of the Rockies the current

is formidable
[Music]

our young builder evidently lacks time

and experience the dam gives way as he

looks on helplessly

[Music]

[Music]

it will have to be rebuilt

it is late in the season now in a few

months

snow and ice will cover the land and

River once more so rebuilding is a

question of survival and giving up is

not an option

especially when you have to start a

family before winter

[Music]