Minnesota Zoo

Minnesota Zoo Media Contact

If you need additional information or wish to request an interview with any Minnesota Zoo staff member, please contact:

Kelly Lessard
Public Relations
Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952.431.9217 direct
952.431.9300 fax
kelly.lessard@state.mn.us

Press Releases

Minnesota Zoo Announces Birth of Beaver Kits and New Online Cam!
First beaver kits born at Zoo since 2004

Apple Valley, MINN – July 13, 2009: – Three beaver kits, born at the Minnesota Zoo on June 20, are now visible to the public through the Zoo’s new online “beaver cam” at www.mnzoo.org/animals/animals_liveCam_beaver.asp. This is the Zoo’s first set of kits since 2004. (Editor’s note: some browsers have a slight delay when loading).

Although on exhibit at the Zoo, the kits are not yet visible as they are still inside the lodge with their parents. The beaver cam can also be viewed by Zoo guests at the exhibit.

Fun Beaver Facts:

Beavers are well adapted to underwater work. Their noses and ears have valves that close to keep out water.
With their strong jaws and teeth, beavers can chew through a six-inch tree in 15 minutes.
Beavers build dams because they swim better than they waddle, so by creating ponds they create an environment where they’re more effective.
The average beaver lodge is 5 feet high, 20 feet in diameter, and has 2 entrances below water and ice levels. Parents, yearlings, and new kits live together in one lodge.
Beavers choose a mate for life. In Minnesota, breeding takes place from November to March, with one litter of 3-4 kits born in May or June.
Kits are born with their eyes open and covered in soft fur. They weigh less than a pound at birth, but are able to follow their mothers underwater before they're a day old.

The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).