Beavers
The beaver is the largest North American
rodent. Most adults weigh from 35 to 50
pounds, with some occasionally reaching 70
to 85 pounds. Individuals have been known
to reach over 100 pounds. The beaver is a
stocky rodent adapted for aquatic
environments. Many of the beaver’s
features enable it to remain submerged for
long periods of time. It has a valvular nose
and ears, and lips that close behind the four
large incisor teeth. Each of the four feet
have five digits, with the hind feet webbed
between toes and a split second claw on
each hind foot. The prominent tail is
flattened dorsoventrally, scaled, and
almost hairless. It is used as a prop while
the beaver is sitting upright and for a
rudder when swimming. Beavers also use
their tail to warn others of danger by
abruptly slapping the surface of the water.
The beaver’s large front (incisor) teeth,
bright orange on the front, grow
continuously throughout its life. These
incisors are beveled so that they are
continuously sharpened as the beaver
gnaws and chews while feeding, girdling,
and cutting trees.
Beavers prefer certain trees and woody
species, such as aspen, cottonwood, willow,
sweetgum, blackgum, black cherry, tulip
poplar, and pine, depending on availability.
However, they can and will eat the leaves,
twigs, and bark of most species of woody
plants that grow near the water, as well as
a wide variety of herbaceous and aquatic
plants. Beavers often travel 100 yards (90
m) or more from a pond or stream to get to
corn fields, soybean fields, and other
growing crops, where they cut the plants
off at ground level and drag them back to
the water. They eat parts of these plants
and often use the remainder as
construction material in the dam.
rodent. Most adults weigh from 35 to 50
pounds, with some occasionally reaching 70
to 85 pounds. Individuals have been known
to reach over 100 pounds. The beaver is a
stocky rodent adapted for aquatic
environments. Many of the beaver’s
features enable it to remain submerged for
long periods of time. It has a valvular nose
and ears, and lips that close behind the four
large incisor teeth. Each of the four feet
have five digits, with the hind feet webbed
between toes and a split second claw on
each hind foot. The prominent tail is
flattened dorsoventrally, scaled, and
almost hairless. It is used as a prop while
the beaver is sitting upright and for a
rudder when swimming. Beavers also use
their tail to warn others of danger by
abruptly slapping the surface of the water.
The beaver’s large front (incisor) teeth,
bright orange on the front, grow
continuously throughout its life. These
incisors are beveled so that they are
continuously sharpened as the beaver
gnaws and chews while feeding, girdling,
and cutting trees.
Beavers prefer certain trees and woody
species, such as aspen, cottonwood, willow,
sweetgum, blackgum, black cherry, tulip
poplar, and pine, depending on availability.
However, they can and will eat the leaves,
twigs, and bark of most species of woody
plants that grow near the water, as well as
a wide variety of herbaceous and aquatic
plants. Beavers often travel 100 yards (90
m) or more from a pond or stream to get to
corn fields, soybean fields, and other
growing crops, where they cut the plants
off at ground level and drag them back to
the water. They eat parts of these plants
and often use the remainder as
construction material in the dam.
| Beaver are in no shortage in southeast Ga |
| A Beaver caught in a culvert. |
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| Beaver Damage |
| There He is! |
| James with a beaver in a live trap. |