THE BEAVER
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The beaver lives by rivers where there are trees nearby.
Beavers can be found from northern Canada all the way down
to the southern United States.
A SPECIAL TAILThe beaver's tail is special. It is flat and has very little hair. The beaver steers with its tail when it is swims. When the beaver stands on its hind feet, the tail helps to hold the body up. The beaver also uses its tail to warn other beavers. It slaps its tail on the water to make a loud noise.
WHAT SHARP TEETH !The beaver has strong, sharp front teeth for cutting down trees. It chews and chews around the tree trunk till the tree falls down. The bark and leaves are eaten. The branches are used for building a dam and a home. THE BUSY BEAVERBeavers are hard workers. They work together to build the dam and the home. They make a pond by building the dam across a stream. The dam holds back the water and a deep pond is formed. Then the beavers build their home in the middle of the pond where they are safe from most enemies. HOME SWEET HOMEThe beaver's home is called a lodge. It is made out of mud and branches. Tunnels lead to the doors of the lodge. The tunnels are under water.
 WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?The beaver eats the leaves and the bark of trees. It also likes cattails and other waterplants.
LET'S GO FOR A SWIMBeavers are strong swimmers. Their hind feet are webbed and their fur is oily and thick. The beaver sees well underwater.photo - a beaver swimmingA BEAVER FAMILYA litter of three or four babies are born in the spring. The baby beavers are born covered with hair and their eyes are wide open. The babies are called kits. Both parents care for them. The young usually stay with their parents for two years. The parents chase them away if they do not want to leave.
A WINTER HOLIDAYIn the winter the beaver family stays inside the lodge. They do not hibernate. The beavers keep a pile of branches at the bottom of the pond. During the winter the hungry beaver dives down to get food.
BEWARE !Wolves, coyotes, bears, the wolverine and lynx are enemies of the beaver. Beavers can not move fast on land.
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jgiannet@hotmail.com
October 2001
updated August 2011
Web Pages for Students
information: obtained from the Wildlife Fact File and Owl magazine