{"id":9510,"date":"2021-09-18T18:43:45","date_gmt":"2021-09-18T18:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?page_id=9510"},"modified":"2022-04-07T19:07:57","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T19:07:57","slug":"beaver","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/beaver\/","title":{"rendered":"Beaver: Key Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that the beaver is the largest rodent in North America? Or that its strong front teeth never stop growing? Read on to learn more about these and other beaver key facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts About Beavers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientific Name<\/strong><\/td>Castor<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Physical Description<\/strong><\/td>Large semi-aquatic rodent with dark brown fur and webbed feet. Beavers have flat, hairless tails that they use to help them swim and slap the water if they feel threatened. They have strong, sharp front teeth coated in orange enamel; they use these teeth to cut down trees for building dams and lodges.<\/td><\/tr>
Distribution<\/strong><\/td>North America, Europe, Asia<\/td><\/tr>
Habitat<\/strong><\/td>Wetlands, marshes, temperate forests near water sources<\/td><\/tr>
Average Height<\/strong><\/td>11 to 24 inches<\/td><\/tr>
Average Length<\/strong><\/td>31 to 48 inches<\/td><\/tr>
Average Weight<\/strong><\/td>40 to 60 pounds<\/td><\/tr>
Average Lifespan<\/strong><\/td>10 to 20 years in the wild; may live up to 35 years in captivity.<\/td><\/tr>
Diet<\/strong><\/td>Herbivore; beavers eat many plant foods<\/a>, including:
– Tree bark, twigs, and leaves
– Water plants
– Grasses and groundcovers
– Apples
– Human crops such as corn and beans<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Species<\/strong><\/td>Two:
– North American Beaver (C. Canadensis)
– Eurasian Beaver (C. Fiber)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Beaver?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The beaver is a large rodent that builds dams and lodges out of trees that it cuts down<\/a>. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission<\/a>, the North American beaver is the largest rodent found in North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult beavers weigh 40 to 60 pounds and can be up to 4 feet long. They are covered in brown fur, and they have highly identifiable flat, hairless tails.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are known for cutting down trees with their orange teeth; they then build dams on streams and rivers to create areas of standing water for their lodges. Because of the significant impact<\/a> they have on their local environments, beavers are considered a keystone species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about beavers, check out the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Zm6X77ShHa8<\/a>