American beaver

Copyright DianesDigitals

This short video shows some interesting eating behavior of a beaver as well as a little tail slapping. Filmed early spring 2016.

Uploaded on Sep 23, 2010

The beaver (genus Castor) is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) (native to North America) and European Beaver (Castor fiber) (Eurasia). Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges (homes). They are the second-largest rodent in the world (after the capybara). Their colonies create one or more dams to provide still, deep water to protect against predators, and to float food and building material. The North American beaver population was once more than 60 million, but as of 1988 was 6--12 million. This population decline is due to extensive hunting for fur, for glands used as medicine and perfume, and because their harvesting of trees and flooding of waterways may interfere with other land uses.

Beavers are known for their natural trait of building dams on rivers and streams, and building their homes (known as "lodges") in the resulting pond. Beavers also build canals to float build materials that are difficult to haul over land. They use powerful front teeth to cut trees and other plants that they use both for building and for food. In the absence of existing ponds, beavers must construct dams before building their lodges. First they place vertical poles, then fill between the poles with a crisscross of horizontally placed branches. They fill in the gaps between the branches with a combination of weeds and mud until the dam impounds sufficient water to surround the lodge.

A beaver skeleton

A beaver skeleton on display at The Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

They are known for their alarm signal: when startled or frightened, a swimming beaver will rapidly dive while forcefully slapping the water with its broad tail, audible over great distances above and below water. This serves as a warning to beavers in the area. Once a beaver has sounded the alarm, nearby beavers dive and may not reemerge for some time. Beavers are slow on land, but are good swimmers that can stay under water for as long as 15 minutes.

Beavers are herbivores, and prefer the wood of quaking aspen, cottonwood, willow, alder, birch, maple and cherry trees. They also eat sedges, pondweed, and water lilies.

Uploaded on Oct 3, 2011

During our careers, we have spent a tremendous amount of time in and around beaver (Castor canadensis) habitat. While it has been very common to see beaver at a distance in the water, they generally reserve their land travels for night time. So yesterday, we were surprised and delighted to see this beaver just a few feet away browsing on willow. This stretch of the Rio Grande is currently dry, thereby causing this beaver to adapt to living alongside the highway in a small storm water drainage area. If you watch closely, you'll notice multiple bite marks and damage to the left eye. We believe he likely escaped one of our many native predators (no water, no protection). Our company provides non lethal beaver management solutions, call us today 505.818.7396 or visit www.rdwildlife.com to learn more.