Facts about Beavers
- 09
During winter months, beavers can survive up to 6 months without leaving their lodges by consuming stored branches and logs accumulated in underwater food caches beneath the ice.
- 08
In North America, beavers can fell trees up to 6 feet in diameter, with some individuals capable of cutting through a 5-inch aspen trunk in approximately 15 minutes using their powerful jaw muscles and sharp incisors.
- 07
Flat, paddle-shaped tails comprising 10 percent of a beaver's body weight function as rudders for swimming, fat storage reserves, and thermoreceptors that detect water temperature changes.
- 06
Each beaver lodge contains multiple chambers, with the main living area positioned above the waterline while underwater entrance tunnels prevent predators from accessing the interior den.
- 05
Castoreum, a secretion from beaver scent glands, contains over 40 chemical compounds and was historically used in perfumes, medicines, and food flavoring until synthetic alternatives became common.
- 04
Waterproof fur on beavers consists of two layers with approximately 23,000 hairs per square centimeter, providing exceptional insulation in cold water environments.
- 03
Beavers can hold their breath underwater for up to 15 minutes while diving to fell trees and retrieve branches for construction and food storage.
- 02
A beaver's dam can measure up to 2,000 feet long and 20 feet high, with the largest known dam in New Hampshire spanning 1,275 feet across.
- 01
Their teeth grow continuously throughout life, requiring constant gnawing to wear them down and prevent overgrowth that could impair eating.