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Beavers are considered the "engineers" of the animal kingdom in North America. Their immense power and skilled movements make it possible for them to down a tree in less than 5-minutes.
CLASSIFICATION
The scientific name for the beaver is "Castor canadensis." Beavers are classified as aquatic rodents residing in Canada and the United States.
HISTORY
Beavers have traditionally been a prized catch. Trappers, hunters and consumers have long regarded the beaver pelt as priceless. Originally, the common beaver (or New World Beaver) was found from Mexico to the Arctic. Large scale trapping operations reduced the beaver population considerably in the early 1900s. As a result, trapping seasons were made illegal in the early 1940s. Today, the beaver is now protected by the United States Government and exists in abundance throughout North America.
CHARACTERISTICS
The beaver is the largest rodent in all of North America. Adults are often 4-feet long and weigh at least 60-pounds.
Beavers have a natural layer of insulation and waterproofing, courtesy of their double coating of brown fur. The outer layers of the beaver's fur consists of course, prickly hair, and the inner layer is made of dense, fine hairs. The undercoat traps a layer of air next to the beaver's skin, which helps to keep him warm and dry, even in frigid waters.
The beaver has especially long, non-webbed, digging claws on his front feet, which make him a strong digger. The hind feet are webbed and enable the beaver to swim at an average speed of 5 mph.
The beaver's front teeth never stop growing. Their "buck toothed" appearance aids in gnawing at bark. Behind the front teeth lays a special flap of skin which keeps the beaver from ever getting a mouth full of water as he chews underwater. The beaver also has similar unique flaps of skin valves which prohibit the nose and ear canals from filling with water, as well.
Thanks to a unique respiratory system, the beaver is able to remain underwater for periods of up to 20-minutes at a time.
The tail of the beaver is unusually broad and covered in scales. The beaver uses his tail like a rudder to maneuver through water. It is also used as a communication tool. It is common for the beaver to slap water with his tail to warn others of impending danger.
HABITAT
Beavers prefer to live in small streams and rivers, but can also be found in dense, wooded areas which border lakes. They live in dams, which are hut-like homes made of sticks and stones, and plastered together with mud and grass. A typical beaver dam measures five feet or more in height, and contains at least one tunnel entrance at a shallow underwater level. During winter months, the mud freezes and the beaver enters his home below ice level. The beaver builds his home with such skill, it often lasts for years.
EATING HABITS
Beavers exist on a diet of bark, twigs and buds of trees. During spring and summer months, beavers also consume corn and other crops, including water plants. As Autumn nears, the beaver begins to harvest trees, shrubs and some greens, storing food for the winter inside their den.
BREEDING
Beaver mating season takes place in January. Beavers reproduce one time per year, after a 107-day gestation period. Three to four young (or "kits") are born in early spring. Kits stay with their family units or colonies for up to two years, before leaving to establish their own family. At the age of two, kits are mature enough to reproduce.
LIFESPAN
Natural enemies of the beaver include bears, wolves, fishers, otters and the lynx. The average lifespan of the beaver is 12-20 years.
TODAY
Today, New World Beavers live in large populations throughout North America. Old World Beavers are found in small areas of Europe. Both species are protected by law.
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