# American Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) The American Beaver is a busy animal known for building dams and lodges in rivers and streams. They have big, flat tails and love to chew on wood to make their homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 158 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Beaver ![American Beaver](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426260/objects/83.jpg) ## Appearance The American Beaver has a stocky body covered in thick, reddish-brown to dark brown fur, often lighter on its belly. It is easily recognized by its large, flat, paddle-like scaly tail and prominent, ever-growing orange incisor teeth. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Castoridae - **Genus:** Castor ## Interesting facts - Beaver dams are so big they can be seen from space, changing entire landscapes! - Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes, longer than many divers! - Their thick fur has over 12,000 hairs per square centimeter, keeping them perfectly dry! - They have special lips behind their front teeth, letting them chew wood underwater! ## Special abilities - **Nature's Engineer:** American Beavers can build complex dams and lodges using wood and mud that create new wetlands. - **Underwater Navigator:** American Beavers have clear nictitating membranes and webbed feet that help them see and swim efficiently underwater. - **Powerful Chewer:** American Beavers have strong jaw muscles and self-sharpening teeth to fell large trees for building and food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-120 cm - **Weight:** 11-32 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-4 - **Gestation:** 105-107 days ## Diet & Feeding Beavers are vegetarians, primarily eating wood, bark, and aquatic plants. - **Primary Foods:** Tree bark, Twigs, Leaves, Roots, Aquatic plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — A primary food source for beavers. - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Adult beavers and kits can be prey. - **Eats:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Opportunistic predator of beavers. - **Shelter:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Uses beaver ponds for nesting. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Beavers are usually friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not disturb their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Beaver? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Beaver? 90-120 cm ### How much does American Beaver weigh? 11-32 kg ### How long does American Beaver live? 10-15 years ### How fast can American Beaver move? 8 km/h ### What does American Beaver eat? Beavers are vegetarians, primarily eating wood, bark, and aquatic plants. ### Where is American Beaver usually found? Wetlands ### How does American Beaver hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park [View all places to see American Beaver](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-beaver) ## Watch - [Play video: American Beaver](https://www.snappit.app/videos/american-beaver) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=UEgSwa-dB3c) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [American Beaver: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beaver)