Beavers:
Beavers are the largest North American Rodent. How
Large? Adults can reach lengths of over 4 feet, and weigh between 25
- 90 pounds. The beaver has a short, blunt head, large, sharp front
teeth, small eyes, small ears, stocky body short legs with 5 large
clawed toes in front, and webbed hind feet. Their tail is large,
flat and mostly scaly. The beavers color is uniformly dark brown,
with some lighter coloring underneath, and the tail is black. Their
lifespan in the wild is around 7 years.
Beavers live in and along streams, rivers, small lakes and
marshlands. They are noted for their engineering skills, building
dams where the water is not too fast.
Some damns are up to seven feet high and forty feet in diameter. The
beaver's coat is kept waterproof through a set of oil glands, and
they can be observed grooming themselves to spread the oil after
each swim. The tail is not used to slap mud on the home - rather it
is used as a rudder, a balance beam, and is slapped on the water to
warn others of predators, and to warn the predator. Primarily
nocturnal, beavers can also be seen at times sunning and foraging
during the day. Vocal sounds range from soft churrs, wines, mumbles,
hisses to nasal sounds. Young are very whiny. Beavers do not
hibernate, but store food (branches, etc.) underwater in their home
space to munch on during the winter. Of course, they are not as
active during winter.
Geographic Range
Beavers are found throughout North America, from as far north as
Alaska, to as far south as southern Texas.
Food Preferences
Beavers are vegetarian. They primarily eat wood vegetation (inner
bark of trees, tender twigs) and non-woody vegetation (water plants,
corn, garden treats).
Enemies
Humans and their traps and guns, coyotes, bobcats, minks, otters,
lice, flies, roundworms,
flukes, and tularemia.
CHESTER
Chester the beaver was found near a creek in May 2006 by
a little girl in Dittmer. (Animals at the clinic are named to
help identify them when speaking to other volunteers and
veterinarians.)
When Chester was brought to the clinic, he
weighed only a pound. Bite holes were present all over
Chester's body, his groin skin and muscles were rotting and
he was infested with maggots. Toni Nelson took Chester to
the veterinarian several times for stitches and professional care.
She worried that Chester would not survive his ordeal.
Finally after Toni repeatedly flushed Chester's
wounds twice a day and also administered a strong dose of
antibiotics by injection twice a day, Chester improved. Now he is
healthy and thriving. Chester is referred to as a male, but since a
beaver does not reach sexual maturity until about two years of age
this beaver might be a female.
