Importance of Beavers
Beaver fur is highly valued for its softness and durability. Much of North America was explored by trappers seeking beaver pelts for export to Europe. In colonial times, beavers were found throughout North America as far south as central Mexico. After years of unlimited trapping, the animals disappeared from much of this area. It became necessary to protect those remaining by laws limiting trapping to a short season.
Certain glands in the beaver's body produce castoreum, a material like musk used in making perfume and also as a lure in wild animal traps. Beaver dams help hold runoff water, reducing the danger of floods and aiding soil conservation.
Beavers love to gnaw trees. They eat the inner bark, twigs, roots, and leaves. A beaver’s favorite trees are poplars, aspens, cottonwoods, willows, and birches. One acre of trees can feed a family of six beavers for more than a year.
Like most rodents, beavers are herbivores (HUR buh vawrz). That means they eat mostly plants. They eat many shrubs in the spring and summer. They also like to eat water plants such as water lilies.
Beavers plan their meals carefully. In the fall, they store food for the winter. They cut trees into small pieces. Then they stick the wood in mud underwater near their homes. In the winter, they swim under the ice and eat the wood they have stored.
Beavers seem to be at work all the time. They are often busy gnawing down trees. Beavers eat some parts of the trees and use other parts to build homes. Beavers cut trees even after they have a home and plenty of food. Scientists don’t know why beavers like to do so. But one reason may be to keep their incisors from growing too long.
Cutting down a tree takes time and hard work. First, the beaver bites the trunk in two places. It keeps biting into both cuts to make them deeper. Then it pulls off pieces of wood between the cuts. After doing this many times, the tree is ready to fall. Before the tree crashes down, the beaver runs for safety, often diving into water.
After the tree falls, the beaver returns to work. It gnaws off the branches. Then it pushes, pulls, or carries the log into the water. The beaver stores some of the branches in the water for food to eat during winter. It uses other branches to build or fix its home.
A beaver’s most dangerous enemy is the otter. An otter can swim into a beaver lodge through the underwater tunnels. Inside, the otter often attacks weak and helpless beaver kits.
On land, a beaver has many more enemies. They include coyotes, wolves, foxes, and bears. Other enemies, such as hawks, eagles, and owls, may not attack an adult beaver, but they will go after the kits. A beaver keeps from danger by staying in water a lot. It comes out at night to eat or work. But even then, it stays alert for signs of enemies.
If a land enemy comes near, a beaver will slam its tail down. It does this to warn other beavers of danger. Then it hides, either by going underwater or to an escape hole it has dug on land. The hole has a tunnel that leads to water. If cornered, a beaver will fight with its sharp teeth.
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