document updated 18 years ago, on Jan 23, 2008
- http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/jefferson/natural/beavers.pdf
- informative photos
- http://www.norcrossws.org/norcross/Beaver/beaver.htm
- http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Castor_canadensis.html
- http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_beaver_law.htm
- http://www.wolf-ridge.org/whats_hap/nat_note_archive/beavers.html
- http://www.northern.edu/natsource/MAMMALS/Beaver1.htm
- http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/Dss/beavers/beaverintro.htm
- http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=82
- Illinois law: (520 ILCS 5/2.32) it is unlawful to molest, destroy, or attempt to destroy any feed bed, nest, den, house, or any other cavity of any mammal protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code (which goes on to say that it specifically applies to beavers.... aww, I wanted to have fun) (molesting or destroying dens is a Class B misdemeanor)
- beaver tracking... scat, tracks, etc
- beaver food (AKA "bait" by those wishing to harm these adorable guys)
- beaver restoration
- photographing beavers
- aerial survey
- managing nuisance beavers along roadsides, quite a lot of information
Local resources
Random things to remember
- Beavers have special eyelids that allow them to see underwater. They have some difficulty hearing underwater (they close their ears, but obviously sound waves that pass through their body could still be heard)
- Beavers are born between April and June each year.
- Beavers can live to be 20 years old.
- Beavers normally submerge for 3-4 minutes at a time, but are capable of staying under for 12-15 minutes. During that time, it's capable of traveling 1/2 mile.
- Yes, their teeth are orange. The color comes from iron in their teeth, which is there to make the teeth stronger.
- Main non-human predator: wolf
- They can travel ~100m on dry land to get to food. (their main dam at my place is 200m from their den, so presumably this 100m figure is from the nearest water)
- Beaver swim at an average speed of 5mph.
