Beaver (Castor canadensis)
 Beavers are North America's largest rodent.
Appearance: humped back, wide flat tail (11-15 inches long, 6 inches wide), average adult weight is 33 pounds, 35-45 inches, 20 teeth, webbed feet, castor glands on the abdomen, which produce oil that the beaver rubs into its fur to waterproof it, ears and nose have valves which close when submerged, has only a single lower body opening called cloaca (similar to birds and reptiles)
Habits: they build dams, construct conical shaped lodging with sticks and mud above waterline, mark their territory with castor oil and mounds of mud and debris, very territorial, can hold breath for 12-15 minutes and travels miles underwater Reproduction: sexually mature at 2 years, breeds in winter or early spring, gestation is 115-120 days, average litter is 3, young stay with parents for 2 years Food habits: strictly vegetarian, consuming cambium layer of many woody plants, such as sweetgum, yellow poplar, and willow 
Habitat: wooded rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, backwaters Controls: beavers are prey to wolves, bobcats, bears, coyotes; young are prey to eagle and owls as well Distribution: widespread throughout north central Louisiana; in every north American state and Canadian Province Values: beavers alter the habitat a great deal, dams result in flooding of lowlands, which provides a better habitat for muskrats, many fish, and waterfowl; mink and otter hunt regularly around beaver dams; dams cause property damage to crops and roads; beaver host an internal parasite, giardiasis, which can affect our drinking water |
