Although a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and snow disrupted area school schedules and made the morning and evening commutes tricky for many, it couldn’t deter this North American beaver from its construction job, building its lodge at the Delta Lake State Park on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Beavers, including this intrepid critter, eat the bark and twigs of popular, aspen, birch, willow and maple trees. As winter draws near, beavers often store food items underwater near the entrance to their lodge to use throughout the winter. This food store is imperative for survival when thick ice prevents access to fresh food. Beavers mate for life. Breeding occurs in January or February and young are born in May or June. Litter size may range from two to seven kits. The number of offspring could be based on the quantity and quality of available food and habitat in any given year, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.