I'm grateful that two people suggested I write about beavers next. Beavers are intriguing and industrious creatures that teach us about stewardship, resourcefulness, engineering and coexistence. Beavers have had a tenuous relationship with humans. They were nearly hunted to extinction in the 16th Century in Europe and the 19th Century in North America due to the fur trade for their pelts, which are renowned for their warmth and waterproof qualities. The pelts are used in hats (particularly felt hats), collars and coat linings. In addition, castoreum from the anal sac, is used in many perfumes, medicines and can be found in "natural flavoring" in foods - yum. Thanks to legal protections, conservation efforts and habitat restoration, beaver populations have rebounded. However, the fur trade and castoreum use is still happening today albeit on a smaller scale.
Trapping for fur using wire snares and body gripping, foot-hold and leg-hold traps is a controversial issue. Many believe trapping is inhumane and unnecessary while trappers argue that they provide a service by reducing populations to “healthy” levels which limits disease and removes pests that are detrimental to agriculture. While there is no evidence to suggest that trappers are preventing overpopulation or contributing to the health of beaver populations, I understand the conundrum of sustainable management of wildlife.
Managers are charged with maintaining sustainable beaver populations, which means they must consider the social and economic welfare of local farmers and trappers as well as the beaver population size. In many agricultural areas, beavers are considered pests, particularly where dam building conflicts with human land use, such as flooding of pasturelands and roads and damage to surrounding crops and trees. Trapping of beavers and other animals (such as coyotes, fox, bobcats, mink, marten, raccoons, skunks and weasels) is, therefore, permitted to balance human needs/desires (which includes the profits earned from trappers selling pelts and the potential income loss from agricultural damage) with the ongoing existence of an animal species. However, in the case of beavers (and most other animals), there are technologies available (e.g., the Beaver Deceiver) to mitigate the impacts of unwanted flooding from beaver dams without having to trap and kill the animal offender.
As our understanding of beavers grows, so does our recognition of their vital role in ecosystems. Beavers are considered a keystone species due to their disproportionately positive impact on the environment. They create crucial wetlands that offer habitat for diverse species, purify waterways and naturally control floods. Most importantly, they are living beings with a will to live, communicate, build homes and thrive. It is time we make space for our beaver friends and learn to coexist respectfully.
Beaver Life History and Biology: Beavers are large, semi-aquatic, primarily nocturnal rodents known for building dams, canals and lodges out of sticks, trees and mud. There are two species of beaver: the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. They are herbivorous, feeding on tree bark, cambium, leaves, aquatic plants, and roots. They favor trees like willow, aspen and birch.
Beavers typically mate for life, living in family units called colonies comprising a monogamous pair and their offspring from multiple breeding seasons. Gestation lasts about three and a half months, yielding 2-4 kits per litter. In the wild, beavers can live 10-15 years.
Beavers communicate through vocalizations, scent marking, tail slapping on water surfaces and body language. They exhibit impressive memory and problem-solving abilities, adapting construction techniques to varying environmental conditions such as changing water levels and flow rates, which underscores their understanding of structural integrity and hydrodynamics. While not traditionally considered tool users, their use of sticks, mud, trees, and stones in building demonstrates their resourcefulness and can be considered rudimentary tool use.
Beaver teeth are incredible! If you look at them closely you will notice that they are bright orange, which is due to the presence of iron in the enamel. This iron-rich enamel makes teeth much stronger and more resistant to wear and tear than the white dentin on the inside. Since beaver use their teeth to gnaw through tree trunks to construct dams, their teeth continuously grow and have a self-sharpening mechanism. As the beaver gnaws on trees, the softer dentin on the back of the teeth wears away faster than the harder enamel on the front, maintaining a sharp, chisel-like edge that is ideal for cutting through wood.
Keystone Species and Environmental Impact: Beavers' dam building creates ponds and wetlands crucial for diverse flora, fauna, and microorganisms. These habitats support amphibians, fish, birds, and invertebrates, contributing to ecosystem health. By slowing water flow, beaver dams recharge groundwater aquifers, maintain water levels during dry spells and moderate stream flow during wet periods, mitigating downstream floods and protecting habitats and infrastructure. Dams also trap sediments and can filter pollutants and excess nutrients from the water, improving water quality and contributing to healthier aquatic ecosystems.
Indigenous Beliefs: Many indigenous cultures hold beavers in high regard, recognizing them as environmental engineers and teachers of balance with nature. For instance, among the Lakota and Plains Tribes, beavers symbolize hard work, practicality and community. They are revered as spiritual guides, embodying lessons in sustainable living and the importance of stewardship and harmony with the natural world. A common theme in indigenous beliefs is a worldview that sees humans as interconnected with all living beings and responsible for maintaining the balance in the natural world.
Beavers are individual, living beings who experience joy and suffering, have close-knit families, life-long partners and are deeply motivated to construct elaborate homes that support their colonies. Sound like anyone you know? While their engineering provides homes for a multitude of other species, it can also spill over unintentionally into human areas. Let's find ways to coexist with all of our neighbors rather than killing them for crossing an invisible boundary. One last thing....don't buy beaver fur.
Video Here is a great video about beavers and how they can transform desert landscapes:
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