American Beaver
North American Beaver, Canadian Beaver
Castor canadensis
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Imagine you’re walking by a river and you spot a large, dome-shaped lodge in the middle. That’s the handy work of nature’s master builder, the American Beaver! Found in freshwater habitats across North America, these remarkable rodents are second only to humans in their ability to reshape their environment. With their strong teeth and powerful tails, beavers are the architects of the animal kingdom, creating homes and dams that are true marvels of natural engineering. Known for their ‘busy’ nature, these creatures never stop working, whether it’s maintaining their dams or caring for their kits. They play such a crucial role in their ecosystemAn ecosystem is a community of living organisms, like insects and birds, and non-living components, like water and rocks, that interact with each other in a specific area. Learn More that without them, many other species would struggle to survive.
American Beaver
Common Name
American Beaver
Other Names
North American Beaver, Canadian Beaver
Latin Name
Castor canadensis
Distribution
Across North America, from northern Mexico, throughout the United States, and into Canada.
Appearance
Beavers are known for their large, flat tails that slap the water in alarm, orange tooth enamel, webbed hind feet, and their ability to fell trees using nothing but their teeth!
Size
Beavers can be up to 4 feet long, including the tail, and weigh up to 60 pounds.
Habitat
Rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes where they can build their lodges and dams.
Behavior
They’re active throughout the year, spending their days cutting down trees, building and repairing dams, and grooming their waterproof fur.
Diet
Mainly vegetarian, munching on leaves, bark, twigs, aquatic plants, and roots.
Lifecycle
After a gestation of around 128 days, females give birth to 1-8 kits that stay with their parents for up to two years, learning the ways of beaver life.
Communication
Beavers communicate by slapping their tails on the water, vocalizations, and scent marking with their castoreum.
Defense Mechanisms
Aside from their tail-slapping warning, beavers rely on their lodges’ underwater entrances to stay safe from predators.
Ecological Importance
Their dam-building activities create wetlands – crucial habitats for many other species and a key to maintaining healthy water systems. They also help in flood control and water purification.
ConservationThe act of protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment. Conservation efforts are important to protect beavers and their habitats. Learn More Status
Once nearly hunted to extinction for their fur, they have made a remarkable comeback and are now considered a species of least concern.
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