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Ok-Championship-2036 t1_it74of2 wrote

Actually the correct answer is that it's both. Beavers ALSO have a cultural component to damn-building. Beaver families learn to build different ways, which passes on "localized" or unique build patterns to the offspring. This is similar to how bears in particular parks have learned to open bear-proof jars through practice and observation. Basically, we knows beavers also have localized culture because they pass on (ineffective or specific) building techniques. Some of the dams beavers build are really awful, no lie.

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RyukuGloryBe t1_it76yoo wrote

Funny that this is the only correct answer in the thread. The beaver's instinct is to dam-build, yes, but they don't make anything good with the instinct alone, it has to be honed by their family teaching them.

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Snoo-82132 OP t1_it75z8c wrote

The localized culture information is new to me, can you share a source so I can learn more about it? Thank you for the explanation 🙂

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Ok-Championship-2036 t1_it78yjw wrote

I cant find it! I wish I could. I found some more generic articles about how beavers work, but not including behavioral analysis of the parenting tactics. Within any animal culture (including humans), the way we teach skills will contain some localized techniques. There have been more specific studies done with this in bear populations.

https://www.beaversolutions.com/beaver-facts-education/beaver-behavior-and-biology/

http://resp.llas.ac.cn/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/213152 Interesting ties between beavers and climate change

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El_Chopador t1_it8ovl4 wrote

I'm picturing bears taking notes from afar on how humans open the bear-proof containers.

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Ok-Championship-2036 t1_itbr0hx wrote

That would be so cute. My favorite quote from the park rangers at Yosemite is, "There is considerable overlap in the intelligence of the smartest animals and the dumbest humans."

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