# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Eurasian Beaver](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Beaver_pho34.jpg&width=800) Photo: Per Harald Olsen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beaver_pho34.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Castoridae - **Genus:** Castor ## 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 - **Nature's Engineer:** Eurasian Beavers can build complex dams using their strong teeth, creating deep ponds that benefit many animals. - **Aquatic Breath-Hold:** Eurasian Beavers can stay underwater for long periods, holding their breath for many minutes to escape predators. - **Insulating Coat:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](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. - [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. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Beavers are usually shy, so it's best to watch them from a distance and not disturb their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian 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 Eurasian Beaver? 70-100 cm ### How much does Eurasian Beaver weigh? 11-30 kg ### How long does Eurasian Beaver live? 7-15 years ### How fast can Eurasian Beaver move? 8 km/h ### What does Eurasian Beaver eat? They are strict vegetarians, munching on bark, leaves, and roots from trees and plants near water. ### Where is Eurasian Beaver usually found? Wetlands ### How does Eurasian Beaver hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Zoo Osnabrück](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-osnabruck) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Neumünster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-neumunster) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo - [Naturpark Insel Usedom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/usedom-island-nature-park) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mecklenburgische-schweiz-kummerower-see-nature-park) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Nuthe-Nieplitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nuthe-nieplitz-nature-park) — Brandenburg, DE · Park - [Uckermärkische Seen Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/uckermaerkische-seen-nature-park) — Brandenburg, DE · Park [View all places to see Eurasian Beaver](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eurasian-beaver) ## 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: [Eurasian Beaver: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-beaver)