beaver

The North American Beaver is a large rodent found around ponds and swamps near forests. The beaver’s fur is a double layer coat made of long rough hairs on the outside and shorter thinner hairs on the inside. Beavers are mostly active at night, and typically found in the water as they are more vulnerable on land. The beaver signals danger by slapping its tail on the water. They also use this signal as a sign that there is a location of fat storage near there. They are excellent swimmers and may stay submerged up to 15 minutes. Predators of the beaver include wolves, mountain lions, and coyotes. The average lifespan of a beaver in the wild is 10-15 years, and in captivity up to 20 years. Populations are stable.

Photo by Georgia H.