BRJPaperturnReduced - Flipbook - Page 45
We imagine beavers to be building dams and creating wetlands
in the wild north country or western states. In fact, right here in
the Upper Raritan River watershed, we have a relatively large population of beavers setting up homes along our riverbanks, lakes
and ponds. Unlike raccoons, squirrels, and bears that all too often
invade our garbage and bird feeders, beavers are rarely seen and
almost never a nuisance in our daily lives. However, their reputation is controversial. While they provide invaluable ecological
services, creating wetlands and habitat for many wildlife species,
they are an aggravation to humans when they remove beloved
trees and their dams cause roads and landscapes to flood.
The Beaver is North America9s largest rodent and can be found
in all but one of our United States - Hawaii. Adults can range
from 40-70 pounds and their vegetarian diet consists of tree bark,
shoots, buds, and aquatic plants. The top layer of a thick brown
coat is long and glossy while their undercoat is dense, soft, and
waterproof. The most unique feature is their paddle-like tail used
for swimming and slapping the water9s surface to sound an alarm
when danger is near. Because beaver teeth grow throughout their
lives, they must continuously gnaw on trees to keep from getting
too long. They build lodges created out of sticks and mud where
they live and raise a litter of one to four