Beaver
Beavers are two species of large, aquatic, flat-tailed rodent of the Northern hemisphere. The only larger rodent is the capybara. Bear-sized giant beavers lived in North America until 10,000 years ago. [1]
Beavers live in dams, some of immense size, which they construct by felling waterside trees. Though superficially this can appear destructive, the activities of beavers do much to preserve the existing forms of rivers and stabilise their flow, and provide significant areas of wetland habitat in their vicinity.
Beaver fur was formerly much sought after, and unrestricted hunting and trapping has done much to reduce their range both in North America, and in Europe, where it historically became extinct in Great Britain and France, though reintroduction programmes are now underway.
Beaver Trivia
- The beaver is the national animal of Canada.