Beaver are large, bulky rodents capable of altering their habitat by building dams and lodges, but they will also den in river banks. Adults can exceed 60 pounds. The hind feet are large and fully webbed. Beaver have a distinctive, large, flat tail that can be used as a rudder or slapped loudly on the water to sound an alarm. Beaver have sharp teeth, capable of cutting down large trees. Colors vary from blonde to black. The beaver is primarily nocturnal and both sexes have large castor glands beneath the skin on the lower belly.
Beaver range throughout most of the U.S., except for Florida, Nevada, and southern California. Habitats include rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, and ponds. Foods include tree bark, water lilies, and crops. Otters, bears, lynx, bobcats, wolves, and coyotes prey on beaver. In good habitat a beaver's home range will cover up to .6 mile of a stream or river. If food is scarce they may travel as far as 650' from the water. Beaver breed in late January or February and have one litter averaging 4-5 kits.
