BEAVERS

There are two, closely related species, of Beavers and live on two different continents; North America and Europe.

A third species called Mountain Beavers is no relatives. It does not live on mountains but on sea shores and is for unknown reason called Mountain Beavers.

The North American and European beavers look very similar. The head seems small in comparison to its heavy body cover in dense dark brown hairs. The short legs and its feet have five digits with strong claws. The hind feet are larger and webbed.  The large tail is flattened horizontally covered with scales.  The beaver uses it as a buddle and rudder.

It is known and to be admired for it elaborated Dom shaped house or lodges. It digs first an underwater burrow and mostly into a bank. The foundation is build by packing mud and stones on the ground. Then it uses sticks piling it up on top and held down with mud and stones. Eventually it reaches way up above the water level. 

One large internal living chamber is hollowed out above the water level and inside walls is 1m thick. One or more under water entrance is tunnelled into the chamber.

Apart froM their lodges, beavers construct extremely efficient dams and canals. They are also built from mud, stones and twigs. It also uses branches and sometimes even tree trunks. Those dams and canals ensure that the water level is always right and therefore do not either drowned or dried out the chamber making it easy for predators to enter.

Beavers are nocturnal but do not hibernate only slowing down in thee winter. It is at home in the water where they swim and dive with great agility. On land it moves slowly and awkwardly.

DIET   The beavers are herbivores and changing their diet to what is available

In autumn and winter they eat the bark and twigs of trees which drop their leaves. In spring and summer they eat more leaves, roots and shoots of plants. Their favourites are water lilies.

Beaver gnawing away around the trunks of a tree with their lower incisors and using their top teeth as levers.  Since these large teeth wear down quickly, they are growing continuously.

The beavers are anchoring their supply under water and it preserves the nutritious value.

FAMILY LIFE   Beavers live in family colonies within their lodges. Usually two adults and their young one. It is assumed they pair for life. It marks the territory round its lodge by spraying it with scent. They use their tail slapping it on the water as a warning and also have vocal communication.

It is unusual amongst rodent that the beaver has a low reproduction. They have only one litter a year and they mate in January and February. After 100 – 110 days gestation they have a litter of four or five but nine can occur. They are born with their eyes open, covered with fur and swim within a few hours.

They suckle up to three months but also eat solid food after a few weeks. Kits from previous litter are expected to bring food but have to leave when the new litter is born.

HUNTED FOR FUR    The North American and European Beavers were hunted for their prized pelts. The relentless hunting for the North American beaver in the 19^th century resulted into reducing it drastically in the Southern rage of the area.

The European beaver were almost extinct but due to reintroduction programmes in parks and nature reserves it is now flourishes.