Beaver Facts
Some Beaver Facts You May Not Know
The beaver is a most interesting animal, and there are a number of beaver facts bearing this out. Beavers are famous for their teeth, tails, and fur, and highly respected as home builders and dam builders. Beavers are also known as lumberjacks, being able to fell a fairly good-sized tree in a fairly short time. The beaver is the official emblem of Canada, Oregon's state animal, and the mascot at Oregon State University, Cal Tech, City College of New York, and 8 other colleges.
The most common of the three beaver species, is the American beaver (Castor canadensis), also called the common, or true beaver. The other two species are the Eurasian beaver, and the mountain beaver. The American beaver is the second largest rodent in the world, a South American rodent, not related to the beaver family, is the largest.
Beaver facts are centered about water, where the beaver spends much of its time. Though a good fighter, the beaver is vulnerable on land, as it cannot move swiftly, and is subject to being attacked by wolves, wolverines, eagles, bears and other predators. When it can, the beaver will retreat into the water, where it can better hold its own. If a predator is in the vicinity, the beaver will often slap its tail on the surface of the water. This makes a very loud sound, and serves as a warning to other beavers in the vicinity.
Beavers are herbivores. They can digest woody material, such as tree bark, which they take from hardwoods. Beavers will eat a variety of other vegetation including many different types of water plants and grasses, plus twigs, leaves, and tree roots. They will often store twigs and branches underwater near their lodges or dens, so they will have a source of food if the water freezes over, as the entrances to their homes are normally underwater. A colony of beavers will tend to stay in one place as long as their food supply is adequate, but sometimes the beavers must migrate to a new location when food becomes scare.
Beavers are monogamous and very social animals. A colony can consist of upwards to 18 beavers of the same family, spanning three generations. Newborn beavers, called kits, weigh about one pound, and learn to swim almost immediately. Beavers make good parents, and good babysitters as well. At two years of age, beavers reach adulthood and will move out of the house and find a place to build their own lodge. At this age they are approaching their full adult size. Beavers can grow to about 3 feet in length and weigh from 30 to 60 pounds.
As a home builder, the beaver is surpassed only by humans. Depending upon the current, a beaver will build either a den, in the bank of a fast moving stream, or a lodge, in a quiet pond or lake. Beavers will even construct dams to create ponds of still water where they can build lodges. The lodges, built of twigs, mud, branches and even tree trunks, have their entrances underground, and the living accommodations above the water's surface. The beaver must of course begin construction underwater, and is well suited to do just that. The beaver's fur is very thick and oily, and essentially waterproof. When a beaver is beneath the surface, it operates somewhat like a submarine, closing all hatches. A transparent third eyelid protects the eye, while allowing the beaver to see. Valves close its nostrils and ears, while fur-lined lips keep the beaver from ingesting water while chewing on, or carrying wood or vegetation beneath the surface.
One of the beaver facts the animal would probably just as well wish we did not know about, is the value of its fur. It was hunted nearly to extinction at one time, as its fur was in demand for all types of clothing. Beaver fur is still used in the manufacture of high quality felt, used in, among other things, the making of fine quality cowboy hats. If it is to be known for anything, the beaver can be respected as a master builder, and an extremely industrious animal.