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Humans are the only other species that can change the landscape more than the beaver can. With four one-inch long incisors and a paddle-like tail, the beaver is able to fell trees and create dams that act as a natural system for cleansing water of pollutants and toxins.
The beaver is not suited for the climates of Florida and Mexico, but it can be found in the rest of North America’s streams, rivers, marches, and wetlands. It is the continent’s most common rodent, typically weighing 60-70 pounds and reaching up to four feet in length. The beaver has transparent eyelids and valves on its ears and nose that close automatically when it submerges in water. These unique features allow the beaver to remain underwater for up to 4 minutes at a time, where, with the help of its tail and webbed feet, it can swim 1 ½ miles.
Friend or Foe?
The beaver has developed a bad reputation among some because they can cause roads to flood with their damming capabilities, and are known to have a taste for farmers’ crops. But as wetlands continue to decline worldwide, the beaver’s ability to maintain the health of these unique ecosystems cannot be understated.
Nature picture credits (left to right): Photo © Ross Geredien (swimming); Photo © Joe Hamilton/The Nature Conservancy(closeup).
