Facts about Beavers
They are the second-largest in the world after capybara. The beaver's front teeth never stop growing. The outside is hard enamel, but the inside is soft and wears away quickly, keeping them sharp. They can stay under water for as long as 15 minutes. The North American Giant beaver was one of the largest rodents that ever evolved. About the size of a small American Black Bear, it disappeared along with other large mammals in the Holocene extinction event, which began about 13,000 years ago. Beavers are known to build very large dams. The largest known was discovered by satellite imagery in Northern Alberta in 2007, approximately 2,790 ft (850 m) long, beating the previous record holder found near Three Forks, Montana, at 2,140 ft (650 m) long, 14 ft (4.3 m) high, and 23 ft (7.0 m) thick at the base. Beavers do not hibernate, but store sticks and logs underwater to feed on during the winter. They have webbed hind-feet. They have a broad, scaly tail. Beavers have poor eyesight, but keen senses of hearing, smell, and touch. Beavers continue to grow throughout life. Female beavers are as large as or larger than males of the same age, which is uncommon among mammals. Beavers are known for their natural trait of building dams in rivers and streams, and building their homes (known as beaver lodges) in the resulting pond. Beavers also build canals to float build materials that are difficult to haul over land. With its dam-building activities, the American beaver causes roughly $100 million in property damages every year. They are known for their "danger signal": when startled or frightened, a swimming beaver will rapidly dive while forcefully slapping the water with its broad tail. This creates a loud "slap", audible over large distances above and below water. This noise serves as a warning to beavers in the area. Trees provide a beaver's favorite winter food — bark and leaves. In summer other vegetation, especially aquatic plants, make up their diet. |
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