We Heart Beavers
We heart beavers – especially our beaver family at Northwest Trek! Mama, Papa (sometimes called R.B.) and their son snuggle and support each other in the Forest & Wetland habitat.
Keep scrolling for fun facts, videos and stories!
Beavers are highly social animals, and our beaver family is no exception. Although the son is an adult now, he’s still loved and cuddled by his parents. And although Papa Beaver has now lost both his eyes, he finds his way around helped by the sounds, smells and touches of the others.
Beavers are engineers, second only to humans in their ability to alter their environment. They work together to construct elaborate dams and lodges to create ponds or wetlands. They’re also expert swimmers, building their lodges with underwater entrances, and built with swimming superpowers like a paddle tail and the ability to hold their breath up to 15 minutes underwater. (That’s Papa Beaver in the photo.)
- Beavers are large rodents, with blonde to black fur.
- They are active anytime, but usually nocturnal around humans. When alarmed a beaver will slap its tail on the surface of the water, creating a loud warning for others.
- They have massive front teeth which grow all through their lives – perfect for chewing branches as they build.
- After a 3-month pregnancy, females give birth to 2-3 kits that weighs about one pound.
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