Beavers are an interesting species. Not only are they semi-aquatic rodents, they are one of the largest rodent species in the entire world, weighing in at an average of up to 70 pounds. Want to learn more about beavers? Continue reading to review some fun and educational facts about beavers, including what you can do to humanely prevent nuisance beaver activity on your property.

Beaver Facts You Can Share With Friends

There are 2 species of beaver in the world: the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. Although they are mostly similar in appearance, North American beavers tend to be larger, with rounded heads and wider tails. Here in Indiana, we are home to the North American beaver (Castor Canadensis), the largest rodent in the world. These beavers usually weigh between 45 and 60 pounds in full maturity, yet some have been recorded of reaching up to 100 pounds!

Beavers are most known for their four front teeth, which are long, orange, and very strong. Their teeth are covered in an iron-rich enamel, which is resistant to the acidic properties in tree bark. This resistance, coupled with the repetitive bark chewing practiced by beavers, causes their front teeth to turn bright orange. Because the back of the teeth wears out faster than the front, beavers have a distinct tapered look to their front teeth.

Apart from their teeth, beavers are well known for their tails. Their tails are wide, naked, and quite leathery, allowing them to swim fast and manipulate water like a rudder on a boat. They also have and webbed hind feet that help them swim. Beavers also have a thick, double coat of brown fur that reasonably repels water, which is why many people used to make hats out of beaver pelts.

Beaver Homes and Life

Beavers are very similar to humans in terms of modifying our spaces to meet our specific needs. No other animal does this as well as beavers do! Not only do they build lodges with complex underwater entrances, they construct dams to create calm waters for their pleasure. In Canada, satellite imaging discovered a beaver dam that is over 2,500 feet long!

Beavers are very sociable and busy animals that mate for life. Their family groups are incredibly cooperative, working together to build, forage, protect, and even groom one another. Beavers also show affection, play games, and use grunts, squeaks, and whistles to communicate.

Beavers learn their hydro-engineering skills at a young age, helping their parents build and maintain dams and lodges. Interestingly, beaver offspring, called kits, stay with their mother longer than any other animal in the animal kingdom, usually up to 2 or 3 years.

Beavers are omnivores, and only eat vegetation, namely aquatic plants, but also twigs, leaves, and soft tree tissue. Many people assume that beavers eat bark or wood, but really, they just gnaw on it to help sharpen their teeth or build dams and lodges.

Nuisance Beavers

Beavers are known to be extraordinary builders, but sometimes, their construction activity can cause problems around residential or commercial areas. Not only can dams cause plumbing damages and flooding, it can also be an eye sore for a property. They also gnaw at tree trunks, which can be both unsightly and hazardous. Furthermore, beavers attract other predators, like wolves, which can be a scary threat to your children or pets.

To safely and effectively get rid of beavers, contact a local and licensed Indianapolis wildlife control company for beaver removal and control services you can trust. Choose a company that has been in business for many years, and can provide helpful amenities like free estimates and inspections.

Indianapolis Beaver Removal and Control You Can Afford

Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and humane animal removal services for beavers in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control operators with more than 30 years of hands-on experience. Trust us for prompt and professional animal extraction, exclusion, and cleanup. That’s right! We provide animal damage restoration and repair, and can even provide homeowners’ insurance claim work. Request a free estimate or advice, today.