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Beaver
Castor canadensis (Kuhl, 1820)
Scene:
Gros Ventre Mountains, WyomingBackground artist:
J. Robert SewellBeavers are mostly nocturnal but are sometimes seen at dusk. Beavers build dams to slow down the flow of water in streams and rivers and then build stable lodges for shelter Beavers may travel far from their lodges to find food and sometimes build canals from a plentiful source to float the food back to their lodges. Logs and twigs are often stored underwater for winter feeding.
Biological Information
Range:
North America (Alaska and Labrador to Rio Grande)
Habitat:
Wooded areas near lakes and streams
Status:
Formerly widespread, beavers were hunted extensively and mostly eradicated from their original habitats by the end of the nineteenth century; later affected by pollution and habitat loss but successfully re-introduced to many former habitats during the past century
Diet:
Bark and twigs, especially aspen, cottonwood, willow, pine; aquatic plants
Further information about this species may be found on the Animal Diversity Web page for American beaver.