Do beavers eat wood?
There is some debate over whether beavers actually eat wood or not.
Some people believe that they simply gnaw on it to sharpen their teeth or to make dams, while others believe that they actually consume the wood.
However, there has yet to be any conclusive evidence one way or the other.
Beavers Do Eat Wood!
One study published in the journal “Biology Letters” attempted to answer this question.
The study found that beavers did consume some wood, but that it made up a very small percentage of their diet.
The majority of their diet consisted of other plants, such as water lilies and cattails.
However, there have been other studies that have shown that they commonly do eat wood.
For example, a study published in the “Canadian Journal of Zoology” showed that beavers living along the Mackenzie River often ate aspen and willow.
These two studies cannot fully answer whether or not beavers eat wood, but it is clear that they do some of it at some point during their lives.
Whether or not they actually digest the wood is still up for debate.
However, if beavers are eating wood, it is likely a very small percentage of their diet. Most of their nutrition comes from other plants.
So, do they eat wood?
The answer is still unclear, but it seems that they may consume some of it.
What Other Animals Eat Wood?
On a somewhat related note, they aren’t the only creatures that eat wood.
Wood-boring insects such as termites and bark beetles also consume it frequently.
However, there is nothing that indicates that these insects actually digest cellulose from the wood, as do cows and some other animals.
The overall consensus seems to be that beavers do eat wood, but that it makes up only a small percentage of their diet.
The evidence is inconclusive, however, since there have yet to be any studies done on how large of a percentage this actually is.
Until there are more conclusive studies on the subject, it will remain unclear as to whether or not beavers eat wood.
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