North American beaver

The North American beaver is the largest rodent on the continent, with a flat scaly tail and orange teeth that never stop growing. It is native to North America and has also been introduced to Patagonia and Europe. It is one of Canada's national symbols.

Beavers gnaw down trees and build dams and lodges that turn streams into ponds. Those ponds become habitat for many other species. Beavers live in freshwater and wetlands, and they are mostly active at night. It is the official state mammal of Oregon and New York. The species is native to the continental United States, Canada, southern Alaska and parts of northern Mexico.

Builders of ponds

Beavers are known for felling trees and building dams. The ponds behind the dams provide a safe home for the beaver family and for fish, birds and other animals.

Quiz data says an adult can weigh about 20 kg, and they swim at around 8 km/h. Quiz data says a beaver can live about 24 years. The card says its orange incisors never stop growing, so beavers keep gnawing.

Family history

The first fossil beavers are 10 to 12 million years old, found in Germany. Beavers are thought to have reached North America across the Bering land bridge. In the ice ages, giant beavers weighing up to 200 pounds lived in central North America.

The North American beaver should not be confused with the mountain beaver, a different and distant rodent.

On the globe

The model shows a North American beaver with a flat scaly tail. Look for the broad flat tail and the big front teeth.