Beavers

by Jarika

Did you know that the beaver has two layers of fur?

Description

The beaver weighs 40 to 95 pounds. Do you know how much that is? Well it's 18 to 43 kilograms. The beavers length is 3 to 4 feet or 91 to 120 centimeters including the tail.

Colour

The beaver's fur is a golden colour or a dark brown colour. Body Covering The beaver has long and shiny fur on the inside layer. Did you know that the beaver has guard hairs on the outside layer? Underneath is thick, wooly and shorter hair. Beavers have a built-in comb for untangling their fur. Beavers have a waterproofed coat for underwater.

Distinquishing Features

Beavers are excellent swimmers. Beavers have webbed feet to help them swim better. A beaver's tail is very flat. The beaver's front teeth are big and sharp to help them chew down trees.

Family Life And Reproduction

Did you know that the mother always makes the decisions. Beavers mate in January or early February. Beaver babies are called kits. Beavers usually have four kits.

Interesting Facts

Did you know that the beaver's eyes are protected by an extra pair of eyelids? Beavers have special oil to help them get dry when they come out of the water . Beavers have underwater food in their home. Did you know that the beaver is the largest rodent in North America? The beaver's family is called a colony. Beavers have lots of enemies. The beaver's enemies are otters, hawks, wolves, cougars, bears, owls and humans. Humans are the beaver's worst enemies. Beavers copy other things animals do to help them learn.

Where In The World

Most of the beavers live in Canada and the United States. Some beavers live in Asia and Europe.

Home/Habitat

Beavers live in rivers, lakes and streams. Their lodge is made out of wood, mud, branches, and sticks. They usually build a lodge near low banks and creeks. The beavers start building by starting to anchor the sticks. They start building the bottom first and then they pile huge mountains of branches on top. Every member helps out. After that they cement it with mud.

Food And Eating Habits

The beaver's favorite food is tree bark. In the summer they like to eat shrubs and bugs. Any other time they like to eat twigs, leaves, roots, and aquatic plants(water lilles.)

Bibliography

"Beavers" World Book Encyclopedia Chicago. World Book Inc. 1995 Vol.2.

Kelsey, Elin. Beavers Nature's Children. Toronto: Grolier Limited, 1985