Beavers
What do beavers look like?
The only other rodent larger than the beaver is the capybara. They are semi-aquatic, which means that they spend much of their time in the water. The most easily recognizable characteristic of the beaver is their large, flat, scaly tail and webbed hindfeet. Beavers grow up to 3.3 ft. long, and weigh in at a maximum of 70 lbs.
Are beavers dangerous?
Beavers are not dangerous if left alone; however, a beaver can become dangerous if it feels threatened, is cornered, or is trapped. In those cases, a beaver may attack a human and their sharp teeth can cause serious injury as well as infection. If you experience a beaver invading your property, it is best to give it plenty of space and avoid interacting with it. However, if you find yourself in a confrontation with a beaver, remain calm and back away slowly.
What do beavers do?
Beavers and humans are alike in their ability to greatly alter their habitats to suit their own needs. To obtain food and building materials, beavers are well known for their ability to topple large trees using nothing but their specially adapted incisor teeth and powerful lower jaw muscles.
What is the life cycle of beavers?
Beavers are monogamous and mate for life. They do not breed until they are two to three years old. Beavers have one litter of 1 to 6 kits per year. As beaver populations expand uninhabited watersheds can be difficult to locate since suitable beaver habitat only comprises 1 – 2% of the landscape. Beavers have been noted to travel ten or more miles searching for a place to live. Beavers can live 10 to 12 years in the wild.
Signs of beavers around my home?
- Toppled trees are an obvious sign of activity.
- Gnawed grooves around tree trunks forming an hourglass shape.
- Tracks seen in mud, back paws are webbed, front paws are not.
What should I do?
The most effective solution for beavers includes fencing around trees to keep beavers from eating them. The fencing should only be metal, they will destroy food fences pretty easily. Fencing around water sources may also be applicable depending on the size of the body of water. A licensed professional may be hired to trap the beaver or implement temporary repellents to convince them to move on from the property.