Eurasian Beaver

Castor fiber

The Eurasian Beaver is a big, furry animal that loves to swim and build dams in rivers. They have strong teeth that help them chew wood and make cozy homes in the water.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Eurasian Beaver has dense, reddish-brown fur, a broad, flat, scaly tail, and webbed hind feet. It can be visually distinguished by its slightly narrower head and often lighter fur compared to its North American cousin.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderRodentiaFamilyCastoridaeGenusCastor

Eurasian Beaver

Interesting facts

Beaver families live in lodges built from sticks and mud, safe from predators.

Beaver front teeth never stop growing; they chew wood to keep them short!

Beavers are strictly vegetarian, munching on bark, leaves, and aquatic plants!

Beavers use a special scent to mark their territory and communicate with others.

Special abilities

Eurasian Beavers can build complex dams using their strong teeth, creating deep ponds that benefit many animals.

Eurasian Beavers can stay underwater for long periods, holding their breath for many minutes to escape predators.

Eurasian Beavers have thick, oily, waterproof fur that helps them stay warm and dry in cold water.

Measurements & details

Length: 70-100 cm
Weight: 11-30 kg
Lifespan: 7-15 years
Top Speed: 8 km/h
Litter Size: 1-6
Gestation: 105-128 days

Diet & Feeding

They are strict vegetarians, munching on bark, leaves, and roots from trees and plants near water.

Primary Foods

Tree bark (willow, aspen)
Leaves
Aquatic plants
Roots
Berries

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Wolf

Canis lupus

Wolves prey on beavers, especially young ones or those on land.

eaten by

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos

Brown bears can hunt beavers, particularly during dispersal phases.

depends on

European Otter

Lutra lutra

Otters may use beaver dams and ponds for hunting fish and shelter.

eats

White Willow

Salix alba

Beavers primarily eat the bark and leaves of willow trees.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Tool Use

This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal.

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.