Castor canadensis
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Chordata |
| Class: Mammalia |
| Order: Rodentia |
| Family: Castoridae |
| Genus: Castor |
| Species: Castor canadensis |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
The North American beaver is a large mammal with a warm brown coat across its body. The tail is flat in shape, hairless, and a shiny black color. Its hind tracks are 5" long with 5 webbed toes. They leave behind tooth marks on stumps of trees that they have cut down and slap their tail on the water’s surface as a warning to other beavers about nearby threats.
Habitat & Range
North American beavers live in and along streams, ponds, and lakes and are
Behavior
Beavers are herbivores, eating sedges and other aquatic plants when available. During colder months, they will eat woody plants, including the inner bark of trees.
To communicate threats to other beavers they will slap their tail on the water’s surface as a warning. They will also use some vocalizations to communicate with others.
Life Cycle
Mating season is in late winter, and young are born in early spring to late spring. They often live 10-12 years in the wild.
Featured image by Steve Hersey.