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Home , North American beaver

North American Castor canadensis

North American The North American Beaver Beaver is the largest Life span: In 12 to 15 years State. Adult are around 3 feet long Range / Habitat: and have been known Beavers live near rivers, to weigh over 55 lbs , ponds, and small throughout ; except for Beavers will build that are narrow barricades made of Florida and the desert logs, branches, rocks, grass and mud. They hold back or Southwest. slow a ’s or spring’s water, creating a pond behind the . The beaver builds a second structure in this pond; Diet: the lodge. This is a large pile of tree branches, sticks, grass, Beavers are herbivores rocks and mud that is hollowed out from below, creating a eating tubers, green leafy secure, dry living space inside. Accessible from underwater, vegetation and inner bark the lodge is where beavers live year round. from , , cot- tonwoods, and Beaver Fun Facts: cherry. Beavers can swim at speeds up to six mph. While beavers are underwater, a special skin flap prevents them from Family Life: swallowing water but leaves the front incisors exposed for Beavers are monogamous carrying branches. and generally mate for life. A single litter of two The Beaver’s large scaly paddle-like tail is one of it’s to five kits is born in May distinguishing features. This tail serves many functions – or early June and kits will as a paddle for swimming, as a sturdy prop when cutting stay with the family group down a tree, as a reservoir to store fat and as a means of or colony for 2 years. regulating body temperature.

They then migrate and In order to warn family members of danger, beavers slap search for mates and their tails against the water, creating a powerful noise. unoccupied habitat in which to establish a new Like all , beavers have large central incisors (front colony. teeth) that are always growing. They must keep them trimmed by gnawing on wood and bark. Beavers are beneficial to the environment. They create habitats for many aquatic organisms, maintaining the water table at an appropriate level and controlling flooding and , all by building dams.