Beaver: Facts and Resources, and Conservation
What is a Beaver?
Surprisingly to some, a beaver is actually an aquatic and land dwelling rodent. After the capybara, beavers are the largest rodent in the world. The definition of a rodent is “a relatively small placental mammal having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth, specialized for gnawing.
The animals live across Canada and the US. They do not, however, extend into Mexico or South America. European beavers cover most of Europe as well as some areas of Russia.
They mammal is best known for its ability to chew through trees, felling them to create dams in which they create their residences. There are two species of beavers; the Castor canadensis, which occupies North America, and the Castor fiber, which occupies parts of Europe and Asia.
What is the scientific Classification of a Beaver?
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae
Genus: Castor
Species: canadensis (North American) and fiber (Eurasian)
Quick fun facts about Beavers
Latin name:
Castor canadensis, Castor fiber
Life expectancy of Beavers:
Beavers typically only live for around 9 to 12 years in the wild. However, exceptionally old beavers have lived to see the age of 20 and older.
Predators of the Beaver:
Humans are the main predator for beavers throughout the world. Natural predators include wolves, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, wolverines, dogs, and bears. In retaliation, beavers attack any predators with their long teeth. If they are able to, their second line of defense is to drag the animal to the water to drown it.
What is a baby Beaver known as:
A baby beaver is called a kitten or kit.
Female Beavers are called:
Female beavers do not have a special name.
Male Beavers are called:
Male beavers do not have a special name.
A group of Beavers is called:
Beavers live in groups called colonies. Young beavers live with their mothers in the colony until the mother has another litter of beaver young, at which time the adolescent beavers leave home in search of a new colony to call home.
What does a Beaver look like:
Beavers have a thick underlayer of brown fur, covered by a bristly, thick layer of top fur. They are around 36” long, not including their 12” flat, ovular tails, which are used for balance, as a paddle when swimming, and as a warning and mating device. The animals have two back feet that are webbed for agility and speed in the water. Their faces resemble mouse or rat faces, with a small semi-opened mount, small black eyes, and a prominent nose located at the end of a short-furred snout.
How tall is a Beaver:
Beavers are typically around 48” in length from head to the end of their tails (which measure around 12” in length). Baby beavers immediately after birth measure around 13” in length, with tails measuring around 4” long.
How much does a Beaver weigh:
Beavers can weigh up to 60 pounds when they are full grown. Baby beavers immediately after birth weigh around 8 pounds.
Conservation status of Beavers
Both species of beavers are listed as being of least concern on the conservation status list. The list, issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, does point out that the species are often killed for their fur pelts by hunters. They are also killed when their tree felling activities and dam building practices interfere with human ways of life. Dam building can cause flooding and tree felling can cause damage and harm to humans and the homes and buildings they inhabit.
Location of Beavers
Beavers live in dams that they build along running streams and rivers, and sometimes at the confluence of rivers and lakes. They need to be near water, but do not live underwater. They are semi-aquatic animals, splitting their time between hunting on land and in the water.
Beavers color
Beavers are usually brown in color. The hue various on the location that the species inhabits and the colors of its family. Two-thirds of European beavers have light brown fur, while only 50% of North American beavers have this color. 20% of European beavers have reddish brown fur, compared with 25% of North American beavers. Only 4% of European beavers have black coats of fur, compared with 6% of the North American species. And finally, 8% of European beavers have brown coats, while 20% of North American beavers have brown fur.
Interestingly, beavers have orange teeth. While cartoon images typically depict the animals are having large, wide, white and sparkling teeth, the rodent’s actual teeth are long and narrow, and dark orange in color. This is because of the animal’s diet, which primarily consists of wood from cottonwood, willow, maple, aspen and cherry trees. These tress contain iron and calcium. As the beavers swim underwater for long periods of time, this iron and calcium can change the color of the teeth, from a white color to dark orange.
Where are Beavers found?
Beaver dams are built by the species to protect them against predators. The animals work very hard (which is the reason for the term “busy beavers”) to build their dams, primarily accomplishing the work at night. The beavers do not actually live in the dams. The dams serve the function of stopping water from flowing downstream, which creates calm water in which the beavers can build their lodges. Their lodges are also created from small branches and mud. The lodge itself is inhabitable above ground by the animals, but it contains underwater entrances. Inside the lodges, above water, are one or more chambers in which the animals live. The sticks and mud provide ample protection for the animals from predators and harsh weather conditions.
What do Beavers Eat?
Beavers are herbivores, which means that they do not eat meat. They typically eat the wood of the trees they fell, including quaking aspen, cherry, maple, birch, willow and cottonwood trees. They also eat underwater plants that are native to the habitat and area of the country in which they live.
Difference between North American and European Beavers:
North American beavers are most often smaller, with smaller, rounded heads, thicker muscles and a thick first coat of fur. Both species’ tails are flat and ovular, but the European beaver tends to have a less oval and more elongated tail shape. Their fur colors are different. Two-thirds of European beavers have light brown fur, while only 50% of North American beavers have this color. 20% of European beavers have reddish brown fur, compared with 25% of North American beavers. Only 4% of European beavers have black coats of fur, compared with 6% of the North American species. And finally, 8% of European beavers have brown coats, while 20% of North American beavers have brown fur.
Resources about Beavers
National Geographic – Beaver; Castor Canadensis
website
World Wildlife Federation – Beaver facts; Adopt a Beaver
website
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – American Beaver
website
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Eurasian Beaver
website
My name is Kim, I am a volunteer at a local Zoo in Chicago, IL. I have been a volunteer for about 5 years now and love it. My full time job is at a vet just outside of the city. I am intrigued by the nature of animals and how they interact with one another.
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