As if they hadn’t done enough for us already…
Beaver-inspired wetsuits in the works
Beavers and sea otters lack the thick layer of blubber that insulates walruses and whales. And yet these small, semiaquatic mammals can keep warm and even dry while diving, by trapping warm pockets of air in dense layers of fur.
Inspired by these fuzzy swimmers, MIT engineers have now fabricated fur-like, rubbery pelts and used them to identify a mechanism by which air is trapped between individual hairs when the pelts are plunged into liquid.
The results, published in the journal Physical Review Fluids, provide a detailed mechanical understanding for how mammals such as beavers insulate themselves while diving underwater. The findings may also serve as a guide for designing bioinspired materials — most notably, warm, furry wetsuits for surfers.
Or people installing flow devices in cold temperatures, right? I know Mike Callahan would be happy to test out one of these beaver-inspired wet suits. Do you need volunteers? And do you think these air pockets help the animals in warmer water too? I’m always curious about the comfort of our California beavers.
Michael Pollock (yes, that Michael Pollock) wrote last night that there are still a few spaces in the Portland beaver restoration course and you should sign up. It really is a fairly rare opportunity.
Hi all,
We still have a few open slots for our upcoming beaver restoration field course in eastern Oregon, which is being run through the Environmental Professional Program at Portland State University (see attachment for course details). It is a unique opportunity to gain expert instruction and the hands on experience of live trapping beaver, constructing beaver dam analogues and learning how to analyze watersheds and stream reaches for beaver restoration potential. Please pass this message and attached flyer along to others who may be interested. It is coming right up. Hope to see you there.
You can register here: or Google “Portland state using beaver to restore streams EPP726” and that should get you there.
Michael M. Pollock, Ph.D.
Ecosystems Analyst
NOAA Fisheries-Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Fish Ecology Division, Watershed Program
