PIERA BERETTA

This picture of one of our local European beavers (Castor fiber) beautifully shows its distinct, paddle-shaped tail. Beavers not only use their scaly tails as rudders when swimming, they also use it as support and for balance when standing on land, as a lever when dragging heavy branches and to warn other beavers of danger by slapping it on the surface of the water just before they dive for safety. They also store fat for winter in their tails.