Beaver
Beaver Facts
| Size | 32-40 inches (80-100 cm) |
| Speed | 5 mph (8 km/h) (while swimming) |
| Weight | 24-66 pounds (11-30 kg) |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
| Food | Tree bark, water and riparian plants |
| Predators | Wolves, bears, lynxes |
| Habitat | Europe, North America |
| Order | Rodents |
| Family | Beavers |
| Scientific name | Castoridae |
| Characteristics | Second-largest rodent, paddle-shaped tail, webbed hind-feet |
Main Characteristics
The beaver is the second-largest rodent in the world, with only the capybara being larger. Its most distinctive features include its orange teeth, paddle-shaped tail, webbed feet, and thick fur. Beavers are well-known for their dam-building skills, which they use to create ponds where they can construct their lodges.
Species
There are two species: the European beaver and the Canadian beaver. Both are similar in size and weight, but the European beaver has a longer head, a longer snout, lighter fur, and a narrower tail.
Distribution and Habitat
The European beaver is native to the entire Eurasian region. In Germany, there are about 40,000 of them, with half residing in Bavaria alone. They can be found in all federal states. The North American beaver used to inhabit all of North America, but now it is primarily found only in the United States and Canada. Beavers thrive in habitats near rivers that are surrounded by a variety of plants and trees.
Way of Life
Beavers are primarily active during dawn and dusk, as well as at night. They inhabit the banks of both still and flowing waters, where they build lodges for shelter and dams to create ponds. These social creatures live in small family groups.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
The beaver measures 32-40 inches (80-100) cm in body length, with its paddle-shaped tail reaching 14-20 inches (35-50 cm). Its weight is 24-66 pounds (11-30 kg).
Physique
The beaver has a robust body, webbed feet, a flat paddle-shaped tail, yellow teeth, and small ears. On its hind feet, it has a unique claw that it uses like a comb to keep its fur clean.
Fur
The beaver has a waterproof fur made up of two layers. It features a soft underfur that is 0.8-1.1 inches (2-3 cm) long and a coarse coat that measures 2-2.3 inches (5-6 cm). This unique fur not only protects the beaver from injuries but also keeps it warm in cold water. There can be as many as 77,000–148,000 fine hairs per square inch of its skin (12,000-23,000 per square cm), while a human has only about 3.800 (600) hairs in the same area.
Teeth
Why do beavers have yellow to orange teeth? It's not because they don't brush their teeth! Just kidding! The real reason is that their diet, which consists mainly of trees and bark, is rich in iron. This iron gives their enamel an orange tint and also makes it very hard, which is essential for these gnawing animals.
Diet
Beavers are herbivores. They primarily feed on tree bark and aquatic or shoreline plants. During the summer, their diet mainly consists of leaves, grasses, reeds, roots, and herbs. In the winter, they tend to favor bark and woody plants.
Behavior
They Are Lumberjacks
Beavers are remarkable builders. They cut down trees that can be up to 3 feet (1 meter) thick to create their dams and lodges. Using their strong front teeth, they gnaw into the wood and shape it with their lower jaw. This technique allows them to carve the base of a tree into an hourglass shape. Eventually, the tree becomes so thin in the middle that it crashes down with a loud thud.
Beavers Are Construction Experts
Once a beaver has felled a tree, it skillfully breaks it down into manageable pieces. It then drags these pieces back to its lodge to make repairs or to reinforce the dam, helping to create a reservoir of water.
Beavers Are Architects
A beaver dam can reach heights of up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) and stretch 330 feet (100 meters) in length. However, beavers don’t always construct dams. If they're satisfied with the water level as it is, they will skip building one. Additionally, they may not build a dam on steep banks. Instead, they create tunnels in the riverbank for their lodges.
Are Beavers Dangerous?
Beavers are gentle and friendly creatures. However, they don't appreciate being chased or harassed, especially when they have young ones. In such cases, they might bite.
Beaver Dam and Beaver Lodge
Lodge
Beavers construct what are known as beaver lodges. While the entrance is submerged underwater, the chambers inside are above the water's surface. They have a "living room" for relaxation, a "pantry" for storing food, and a cozy den that serves as a snug sleeping area.
Tunnels
The chambers inside a beaver lodge are interconnected by tunnels. These include feeding tunnels, escape tunnels, and play tunnels.
Dam
Why do beavers build dams? In a beaver's lodge, they certainly don't want to encounter lynxes, wolves, bears, or stray dogs. That's why the entrance is always located UNDER the water. To ensure this remains the case, they construct a dam that keeps the water level consistently stable.
The Largest Beaver Dam
In 2007, an astonishingly large beaver dam was discovered in Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta (Canada). Stretching an impressive 2,788 feet (850 meters), it is believed that multiple generations of beavers have been working on it since 1970.
Senses and Abilities
Senses
The sense of smell is the most important one for the beaver. It aids in locating food, recognizing family members, and detecting dangers. The beaver marks its territory with an oily, musky-scented fluid from its anal glands. Additionally, it applies this oil to its fur to make it waterproof.
Swimming
Beavers are fantastic swimmers and navigate underwater with great skill. Their paddle-shaped tail acts like a combination of a ship's motor and rudder. Additionally, the webbing between their fingers and toes aids them in swimming.
Holding Breath
Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes. While underwater, they dive, swim, or work on their dam or lodge.
Climbing
Beavers really love trees, but they aren't able to climb.
Life Expectancy
Beavers typically live for about 10-12 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The beaver's natural enemies include wolves, bears, lynxes, coyotes, cougars, eagles, and feral dogs.
Unpopular Beaver
Beavers aren't always the most popular animals among people. They alter riverbanks and turn nearby land into wetlands, which can make it unsuitable for farming, livestock, factories, and housing. Additionally, this can lead to the erosion and destruction of roads. However, they play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Hunting
The fur of the beaver is one of the main reasons it was nearly driven to extinction. Although spotting one is still a rare occurrence, it's great to see that their population is on the rise again in Europe. In North America, their numbers have at least stabilized.
Conservation Status
According to the IUCN, the European and the North American beaver aren't considered an endangered species. However, in Germany, it is classified as a specially protected species and hunting it is prohibited.
Importance For the Ecosystem
Beavers play a crucial role in the ecosystem, and their dams are essential for various reasons. They create vital habitats for aquatic plants, fish, insects, and birds. This is why beavers are often referred to as a "keystone species" – because many other animal species rely on them. Additionally, their dams help stabilize riverbanks, prevent rapid sedimentation in rivers, raise the groundwater level through the stored water, and reduce the impact of flooding.
Reproduction
Beavers stay together for their entire lives. Typically, they breed underwater between January and April, usually having 2-3 offspring. The young are born after a gestation period of about 100 days and remain with their parents for up to two years before venturing out on their own.
Fun Facts
Beavers Were Once Considered Fish
During the Middle Ages in Europe, people liked to claim that beavers were fish because meat was not allowed during Lent. They labeled them as fish due to their webbed feet, paddle-shaped tails, and aquatic habitats.
The Beaver Is Related To:
- Gopher
- Kangaroo Mice
- Kangaroo Rats
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Alligator
- Bald Eagle
- Barn Owl
- Black Bear
- Brown Bear
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Kingfisher
- Peregrine Falcon
- Lynx
- Raccoon
- River Otter
- Roe Deer
- Wolf
Sources:
- "Beaver dams overshadow climate extremes in controlling riparian hydrology and water quality" (https://www.nature.com)
Video: 31 Facts About Beavers
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