Humber Arboretum’s International Beaver Day walk spotlights its busiest builders

Nature interpreter Joaquín Varela speaks to attendees during the International Beaver Day walk.HumberETC/Allison Waytowich

The arboretum hosted a guided walk along the Humber River to celebrate International Beaver Day on Tuesday.

The free event, held from noon to 1:15 p.m., began at the Centre for Urban Ecology and led participants through areas of the arboretum where beavers have recently been active.

Joaquín Varela, a nature interpreter at Humber Arboretum who led the tour, said seeing a live beaver during the day is rare because the animals are nocturnal. Even so, the group saw clear signs of activity along the river, including chewed trees, worn trails, lodges and trail camera footage captured overnight.

The footage showed beavers moving along a path in the early morning hours. Varela said staff believe there are several beavers in the area, likely part of a family group.

Along the trail, participants also learned how to distinguish fresh beaver-chewed trees from older damage and which types of trees beavers prefer.

Beyond being an iconic Canadian symbol, beavers are also important to North American landscapes. Varela described them as “ecosystem engineers” who create their own habitat and reshape the environment by building dams and ponds.

“These wetlands that they create are extremely important for biodiversity,” Varela told the group, explaining that beaver habitats support other wildlife, absorb excess water and help reduce flooding.

For some attendees, the walk offered facts they did not expect from a lunchtime nature event. Anabel Baklayan, a retired executive assistant, said she was surprised to learn that beavers can live 10 to 12 years.

Although the group did not spot a live beaver during the walk, participants left with a better understanding of the wildlife along the Humber River and how one species can quietly transform its surroundings.

Stop by Humber Arboretum after dark next Wednesday, April 15, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for the Bat and Dark Sky Week Night Walk, where visitors can enjoy a guided walk under the stars and listen for local bats during International Dark Sky Week and Bat Appreciation Day.