Castor canadensis

Biological Overview

Habitat
They live inside dams that they build.

Diet
Aquatic Plants: Water lilies, cattails, sedges, rushes, and pondweed are popular in spring and summer.

Role in Ecosystem
Building dams that create wetlands, which enhance biodiversity, purify water, and mitigate climate change impacts.

Behavior
Not aggressive but will defend their territory.

Human Impact

Historically, trapping for the fur trade nearly brought beavers to extinction, which caused massive degradation of wetlands and loss of biodiversity. Modern suburban development and agriculture often destroy beaver habitats, forcing them into conflict with residents. While they are sometimes seen as pests, modern conservation efforts are increasingly recognizing the necessity of beavers in restoring degraded landscapes.

Creative Exploration

Beavers are wild animals and they prefer to be left alone in their natural habitat. You should not expect a beaver to walk up to you, pose quietly as you take pictures, or show other signs of friendliness. While you will not encounter friendly beavers, they may actually be afraid of you.

Brayden Winters, Austin Ledford, Vaden Martin

Book 8