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Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The beaver is a large aquatic rodent with webbed rear feet and a horizontally flattened, paddle-shaped tail, The largest North American rodent, beaver may be over 39' long, reaching weights of more than 57 Ibs. With a soft, dense underfur ranging from pale to chocolate brown and rich brown guard hairs, their glossy, durable coat is a valuable fur.

Reproduction

Beaver are apparently monogamous (have only one mate). They breed January-March with the young born about 128 days later. Litters range in size from 1 to 8, but 2-4 are the usual number of kits. The young remain with the parents for about two years, maturing at 1-2 years of age. Beaver have one litter per year.

Dens are either in large bank hoes (burrows) or large dome-shaped, stick and mud lodges. Entrances and exits are generally below the surface of the water.

Habitat

Beaver are aquatic mammals, generally found near water. Young adults looking for a new area to live may travel considerable distances along very small water courses. Suitable habitat may be natural or constructed by the beaver (dams) where other conditions are favorable.

Habits

Beaver are mainly nocturnal or crepuscular (active around dusk and dawn). They prefer rather deep water and will construct mud and stick dams to create those preferred conditions. Typically each adult pair of beaver will construct a lodge that they occupy with their kits and yearlings.

Beaver feed both on bark and aquatic vegetation, and winter food stores are composed of quantities of branches lodged in the bottom of the pond. Their preferred foods include aspen (poplar), alder, and willow; but several other types of trees and aquatic plants are also used.

Generally beaver use habitual runways in their travels. In late winter they will go considerable distances to areas of open water. Secretion from the castors (scent glands) are deposited on 'mud pies along the banks as a means of communication.

Freshly cut trees or brush, tracks, and mud scent mounds are all signs of beaver activity. Dams, channels, and lodges where other signs are present show active beaver colonies.

Disease

Beaver are susceptible to tularemia, so trappers should follow the same precautions mentioned for muskrat.

Trapping Tactics

Trail, bait, spillway, scent mound, and channel sets are effective in trapping open water. Channel sets are also effective in under-ice trapping. Several kinds of bait sets using fresh twigs or other vegetation are also used under the ice. Slanted-pole sets and bait-pen sets (basically an underwater cubby) are two popular types. Most trappers prefer large body-gripping traps or strong see 3 or 4 traps for beaver. All sets should be placed in the water. When using foot hold traps for beaver, drowning wires or cables equipped with sliding locks must be used unless the trap is anchored to prevent the beaver from reaching the surface. At least 3' of water is needed to drown beaver consistently. In addition, placing traps on or within a certain distance of dams or lodges may be illegal in some areas. Check your Trapping Guide or ask your local Environmental Conservation Officer if in doubt about regulations.

Baits and Lures

Castoreum, the secretion of the castors, and oil glands located under the skin between the beaver's hind legs, is the most frequently used beaver lure. Twigs or sections of branches from poplar, alder, willow, maple, or other trees are frequently used for bait.