Beavers: Semi-Aquatic Rodents

Physical Characteristics

• Beavers are semi-aquatic mammals and are the largest rodents in North America and the second largest in the world.
• They have broad, flat tails and powerful front teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives.
• Beavers can weigh over 50lbs (25 kg) and live up to 24 years.

Diet and Eating Habits

• Beavers do not eat wood, but instead eat leaves, twigs, and the inner bark of deciduous trees, as well as shrubs, aquatic plants, and grasses.

Behavior and Abilities

• Beavers are nocturnal, being active mostly at night, and are slow on land due to poor eyesight.
• They are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes.
• Beavers have good hearing and a keen sense of smell.

Habitat and Dams

• Beavers construct dams using wood, mud, and stones to create ponds that protect them from predators.
• They often build lodges out in the middle of their ponds, which serve as a place to rest and keep warm.
• By cutting down trees and building dams, beavers change the face of the land around them and create habitats for many other plants and animals.

Conservation Status

• Historically, beavers were hunted for their fur, leading to a significant decline in populations.
• Today, conservationists recognize the beaver's important role in creating healthy habitats and work to protect them.
• Beavers have been reintroduced to some of the places they were lost, and in many places they are now thriving.