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North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
39.0666, -107.094
Field Notes
Description:
The beaver is the largest (up to 77 pounds) rodent in North America. It's fur is brown and has a thick undercoat and longer guard coat. Rear feet are webbed for swimming and the tail is flattened to a paddle-shape.Ears are small and rounded.
Habitat:
Was once found throughout much of North America, especially the United States and Canada. Well known for its dam and lodge building along streams, it is also fairly common in large rivers and lakes where it rarely builds dams and lives in dug bank dens. Was largely extirpated from much of its range during the heyday of the fur trapping era. Within the last few decades, however, this animal has been expanding back into its former range and is becoming common once again. They feed on bark, often felling even large trees, especially aspens for food as well as dam and lodge building.
Notes:
I photographed this beaver in Colorado in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass area, but find them in small streams throughout the US Midwest and even in the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota!
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