CANADIAN BEAVER
The beaver is the largest rodent in North America and largest in the world except for the capybara of South America. An adult weighs from 32 lbs. to 70lbs. and, including its 30-cm tail, a large beaver may measure 1.3m long.
Very compact and rotund, a beaver walking on land appears to have no neck at all; the round profile of its head merges into the round profile of its back. Because its legs are short, it is ungainly it is slow on land. Not so in the water. The beaver is a graceful, strong swimmer, both under water and on the surface, attaining speeds approaching 7km per hour if alarmed.
It has many adaptations to its watery habitat. Its small beady eyes are able to see as well in the water as out of it thanks to a specialized transparent membrane that can be drawn over the eye for protection while diving. Its nostrils are small and can be closed for underwater swimming, and its ears too, can be closed under water.
The beaver's tail has important uses both in the water and on land. The tail of a large beaver may be 30cm long, up to 18cm wide, and 4cm thick. It is covered with leathery scales and sparse, coarse hairs.
In the water, the animal can use its tail as a four-way rudder. Although fat, the tail is flexible and muscular. When diving after being frightened, a beaver slaps the water with its tail, making a noise like a pistol shot, which warns all beavers in the vicinity that danger is near and perhaps serves to drive away potential predators.
Very compact and rotund, a beaver walking on land appears to have no neck at all; the round profile of its head merges into the round profile of its back. Because its legs are short, it is ungainly it is slow on land. Not so in the water. The beaver is a graceful, strong swimmer, both under water and on the surface, attaining speeds approaching 7km per hour if alarmed.
It has many adaptations to its watery habitat. Its small beady eyes are able to see as well in the water as out of it thanks to a specialized transparent membrane that can be drawn over the eye for protection while diving. Its nostrils are small and can be closed for underwater swimming, and its ears too, can be closed under water.
The beaver's tail has important uses both in the water and on land. The tail of a large beaver may be 30cm long, up to 18cm wide, and 4cm thick. It is covered with leathery scales and sparse, coarse hairs.
In the water, the animal can use its tail as a four-way rudder. Although fat, the tail is flexible and muscular. When diving after being frightened, a beaver slaps the water with its tail, making a noise like a pistol shot, which warns all beavers in the vicinity that danger is near and perhaps serves to drive away potential predators.
On land, the tail acts as a prop when the beaver is sitting or standing upright. It also serves as a counterbalance and support when the animal is walking on its hind legs while carrying building materials like mud, stones, or branches with its front paws.
The beaver's hind feet are very large, with five long blunt-clawed toes which are fully webbed, for swimming. In the water, a beaver uses only its hind feed to propel itself, with occasional aid from its tail. Its forepaws are small, without webs, and the toes end in long sharp claws suited to digging. These delicate paws are very dextrous — almost like hands — and with them the beaver can hold and carry sticks, stones, and mud and perform a variety of complex construction tasks.
The beaver also uses its paws to groom its coat. The second toe on each hind foot is double-clawed, the claws being hinged to come together like tiny pliers. These specialized claws on the hind feet along with the front claws are used for combing the fur.
The BEAVER has exceptional teeth. Its long, sharp, strong incisors grow continuously and are hardened with a dark orange enamel on the forward face. Consequently, as the upper and lower incisors are ground against each other, the outer tips of these teeth are maintained chisel-sharp. With them, a beaver is able to fell very large trees. The lips can be closed behind the incisors, permitting the beaver to gnaw on twigs while under water.
A beaver takes only one mate, which it keeps for life. One litter, averaging three or four kits, is born each year in May or June following a 100-day gestation period. Although kits are well-furred, have teeth already cut, and can see, walk, and swim when born, they generally don't move out of the lodge for at least one month. They become capable of reproducing at age two. The young stay with their parents until they are two and sometimes three years old. At that time they disperse in response to an innate urge to leave the home colony, and migrate along streams or across country until they find mates and suitable building sites, whereupon they establish their own dams and lodge. These dispersal migrations can vary from just a few kilometres up to 250km.
The beaver's hind feet are very large, with five long blunt-clawed toes which are fully webbed, for swimming. In the water, a beaver uses only its hind feed to propel itself, with occasional aid from its tail. Its forepaws are small, without webs, and the toes end in long sharp claws suited to digging. These delicate paws are very dextrous — almost like hands — and with them the beaver can hold and carry sticks, stones, and mud and perform a variety of complex construction tasks.
The beaver also uses its paws to groom its coat. The second toe on each hind foot is double-clawed, the claws being hinged to come together like tiny pliers. These specialized claws on the hind feet along with the front claws are used for combing the fur.
The BEAVER has exceptional teeth. Its long, sharp, strong incisors grow continuously and are hardened with a dark orange enamel on the forward face. Consequently, as the upper and lower incisors are ground against each other, the outer tips of these teeth are maintained chisel-sharp. With them, a beaver is able to fell very large trees. The lips can be closed behind the incisors, permitting the beaver to gnaw on twigs while under water.
A beaver takes only one mate, which it keeps for life. One litter, averaging three or four kits, is born each year in May or June following a 100-day gestation period. Although kits are well-furred, have teeth already cut, and can see, walk, and swim when born, they generally don't move out of the lodge for at least one month. They become capable of reproducing at age two. The young stay with their parents until they are two and sometimes three years old. At that time they disperse in response to an innate urge to leave the home colony, and migrate along streams or across country until they find mates and suitable building sites, whereupon they establish their own dams and lodge. These dispersal migrations can vary from just a few kilometres up to 250km.
