Exploring Your Environment

E very environment has special features like mountains or rivers. And every environment changes, like spring turns to summer. In order to survive, plants, animals, and people have to adapt to their changing environment. E x p l o r E I n what ways is a beaver’s body adapted to fit the environment? H ow do these features help the beaver survive? Animals 4 W aterproof fur keeps a beaver warm in the water all year. Its back feet are webbed for swimming. Its wide flat tail is used to steer. Beavers live in and around rivers, streams, and lakes that are near woodlands. They build dams to block and change the flow of water to make deep ponds. They build their homes, called lodges, in these ponds. The ponds keep them safe. T he beaver’s large front teeth are shapedso it can chewdown trees. Abeaver uses its tail to build itsdamand lodge, and for balancewhen it standsup.