North American Beaver
Beaver
- 30-60 lb
- a herbivorous rodent with huge incisors, dental formula 1-0-1-3/1-0-1-3
- Incisors are used for gnawing trees and nibbling bark which are the beaver's main food.
- Large trees are gnawed down to get at the upper branches for food and for building material for dam and lodges.
- Dams across streams are made of sticks packed with mud. A pond forms behind the dam providing protection for the beavers and eases transportation of branches and trees as the area floods. Beavers often are not welcome in cities because they cut trees and flood people’s property by damning streams
- In addition to large incisors, their flat tail is a well recognized character. The tail is used for steering in the water and to slap the water making a loud “keplunk” that warns other beavers that danger is near.
