Common Name:
Beaver
Scientific Name:
Castor canadensis
Unique Qualities:
A national symbol of Canada, the beaver is well-known for its amazing engineering skills. Beavers are wonderful builders and they are especially good at building dams. They may construct them across narrow, flowing waters, such as shallow streams and the channels of larger rivers.
Can be Seen:
Beavers are found throughout North America except for the extreme northern regions of Canada, the deserts of the southwest United States, Mexico and Florida.
Likes to Hang Out:
Beavers are found along streams and rivers, small lakes and marshes. A beaver may dig a tunnel and form a den in a high stream bank or river bank. However, in lakes and marshes, they will often pile tree limbs and other debris together to make a dome-shaped lodge.
Likes to Eat:
Beavers change from a woody diet to a herbaceous diet as new plants grow in the spring. During summer, beavers will eat grasses, herbs, leaves of woody plants, fruits, and aquatic plants.
Status:
Although the population is now healthy, the beaver was almost hunted and trapped to extinction (1600-1800) when beaver fur hats and coats were in fashion.
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