Beaver Large rodent of the family Castoridae of Europe and North America. It is characterized by its aquatic fur ( a soft under coat with a longer, rougher outer coat) , rounded head with small ears, scaly and fattened tail, and webbed hind feet. Its body length exclusive to the tail is about 30 in., and it weighs from 40 to 50 lbs., often more. The tail acts as a rudder in swimming and is used to slap the water as a danger signal and to support the animal when it is sitting erect . Its hind feet have combing claws with which it grooms itself.

There are two living species, castor fiber, the European Beaver exterminated in most countries but found in small numbers in parts of France, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Siberia, and C . canadensis, the American beaver .

Beavers are gregarious and live in colonies. Although some of American beavers make burrows in stream banks, the majority construct lodges of branches and twigs tightly plastered with mud . A room above water level in the lodge serves as a living room and nursery. The entrances and emergency exit the underwater as protection from enemies. If the water of the chosen site is not deep enough to cover and to provide an under water cache for food , the beavers build a dam of tree trunks , branches , and mud and, and stone.

A winter store of wood is submerged in water near the lodge, where at it can be reached by swimming under the ice . Bark of aspen , cottonwood, willow,birch, and alder , and succulent parts of aquatic plants constitutes most of its diet. Chipping at the wood with its incisor teeth, the Beaver fells trees used for food and in making the dam. Canals are often made in which to float a distant logs to the dam site .

The beaver pelt was the staple article of the fur trade of Canada and the United States from the early 17th century, and constant hunting by Indians and white trappers almost exterminated the Beaver before protected laws were passed . Until about the mid 19th century, pelts were used chiefly in making hats, the rest for coats and trimmings .

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