COMMON NAME: Beaver

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Castor canadensis

The Beaver is the largest rodent in California. Head and body, 25 -30 inches long, are covered with short, dense, dark brown fur. His tail, 9 -10 inches long, is thick, bare and paddle-shaped. His large hind feet are webbed. He can close his ear flaps and nostrils when he dives underwater. He also has large chestnut-colored incisors.

Family groups (parents, yearlings and kits) live together in a territory of 36 acres. After a gestation of 128 days, 2 -4 kits are born April through July. Kits are furred, with incisors and eyes are open at birth; they are weaned in 60 -90 days. Only one litter is born each a year. Yearlings leave their natal area when 2 yeas old and mature.

The Beaver may live to 11 years in the wild; 19 years in captivity.

You will see his work before you see him. Beaver alters his habitat with the construction of his stick and mud dam across a stream. His dam causes the water behind it to form slow, deep ponds which he needs for retreat and a waterway access to surrounding trees. He may not build a lodge, but may dig a burrow into the bank. He lives in montane riparian, valley foothill riparian, riverine and fresh emergent wetland environments.

In summer he feasts on grasses, cattails, lilies and leaves. He will store branches with leaves underwater near his lodge for his winter food source. Favorite trees include: aspen, birch, poplar, maple and willow. Exploitation of local vegetation may make it necessary for the colony to move up or down stream. By moving, the environment has a chance to renew and beaver has a fresh food supply.

He may become prey for coyote, bobcat, mountain lion and bear.

Beaver was exploited for his dense fur through unregulated trapping. He has been reintroduced to some of his historic range. Now reestablished, he is prot4ected from overexploitation.