American Beaver

Castor canadensis

Their teeth are bright orange because the enamel contains iron, which makes them incredibly strong and resistant to acid.

Scientific name

Castor canadensis

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Castoridae › Castor

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

increasing

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes bordered by deciduous woodlands.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding on tree bark, cambium, twigs, leaves, and aquatic vegetation.

Range

Canada, United States, Northern Mexico, Patagonia (introduced)

Size

Length: 3-4 feet (90-120 cm); Weight: 30-70 lbs (13-32 kg)

Lifespan

10-15 years in the wild

Active

crepuscular

Threats

Habitat fragmentation, water pollution, and human-wildlife conflict arising from flooding caused by their dams.

Safe to approach?

Beavers are generally defensive and will avoid humans, but can bite if cornered. Maintain a safe distance of at least 15 feet. If you hear a loud tail-slap on the water, they are stressed and warning you to back away. In the rare event of a bite, wash the wound thoroughly and seek immediate medical attention due to infection and rabies risks.

The North American beaver ( Castor canadensis ) is one of two extant beaver species. It is native to North America and introduced to Patagonia in South America and some European countries (e.g. Finland). In the United States and Canada, the species is often referred to simply as "beaver", though this causes some confusion because another distantly related rodent, Aplodontia rufa , is often called the "mountain beaver". Other vernacular names, including American beaver and Canadian beaver , distinguish this...

Photo: Rodney Campbell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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