Beaver

Shelter for Animal | Beaver | There are two species of beaver (Castor) in the world, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver which is slightly larger than its American brother. It has a more narrow muzzle and tail.

Beaver animal facts

The two species are not genetically viable and therefore cannot produce offspring with each other, of course, the chance of them running into each other is pretty slim. Since they basically live on opposite sides of the world. Both species were hunted extensively for their fur castoreum and meat but more recent introduction projects and hunting restrictions have helped to bolster their populations.

Beavers appearance

Beavers are the second largest rodents on the planet second only to the capybara from tail to nose. They can reach more than four feet in length and larger. Beavers can weigh over sixty pounds that’s like six Chester’s. They are largely aquatic animals and have adapted accordingly their back legs are powerful and built for swimming with large webbed feet.

They can swim up to five miles p/h. They can also hold the breath maximum of up to 15 minutes. They do this by slowing their heart rate and that massive tail of theirs works as a rudder underwater. Beavers are also able to close their nose and ear holes while swimming and have a special membrane that covers their eyes while below the surface it’s like their own personal set of goggles to top it off.

They’re able to waterproof their coat using Kasturi ‘m which is an oily substance that they produce in their scent glands. When they’re on land they can be a bit clumsy on their feet. However, there’s still Master Craftsmen considered second only to humans and having the ability to change their landscape.

Beaver habitat

Beavers can completely reconstruct an ecosystem by felling trees and building dams. They create the water reservoirs in which they live freshwater wetlands are extremely important. They create homes for lots of different species many of which are endangered wetlands purify water and are sometimes referred to as the kidneys of the earth.

They also slow erosion. Beavers are one of the main contributors to the construction of these vital ecosystems it is possible for the presence of beavers to such as with flooding which leads to property damage though. The benefits of the Beavers home usually tend to outweigh the drawbacks besides maybe they’ll move into your basement, that would be lots of fun. Beaver homes are called lodges.

The more iconic lodges are found in the middle of a wetland environment as a large dome constructed out of branches and mud they will however also live in furrows on the sides of streams or lakes. Their homes usually have more than one entrance and the entrances are only reachable underwater the favored willow maple birch Aspen cottonwood beech poplar and alder trees.

Beaver’s diet

Both for constructing their homes and for consumption they have a gastrointestinal system that specializes in digesting tree bark. They do eat other vegetation though such as roots buds and water plants typically a mating pair lives inside a beaver lodge with their offspring beavers mate for life and their kids live with them for two years. Before leaving the lodge a female Castor will only produce one litter of one to four kits per year.

Usually, in the spring her gestation period or the period in which she’s pregnant lasts about three months but that’s a small price to pay. Considering the babies are weaned at a mere two weeks of age if the phrase busy as a beaver comes from anywhere it comes from the tenacity of their offspring.

Beaver babies are born with both eyes already open and they are usually swimming within their first 24 hours of life within their first week. They are already leaving the lodge and learning the ropes of the outside world at a year old.

Beaver is the national animal of Canada.

Beavers will become the babysitter’s to next seasons litter and then leave the lodge the following year. They typically begin mating around 3 years of age and can live more than 20 years in the wild. Their predators are hawks, owls, coyotes, and even wolves and bears.

Beavers are abundant in North American legends some tribes believe them to be a symbol of wealth and luck during the hunt others saw them as hard-working creatures while some view them as stubborn.

Reference: Wikipedia