By Amber Heeter

The beaver is Pennsylvania’s largest rodent. They can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh over 60 pounds. It has webbed hind feet and a large flat tail that looks like a canoe paddle. A beaver has large front teeth, which always are growing. When they chew bark, it keeps their teeth worn down. A beaver’s fur is almost waterproof and brown in color. Beavers are found in the northeastern and northwestern counties of Pennsylvania. They live in shallow streams, rivers, and ponds where they can build their homes.

The beaver eats mostly bark but will eat corn and other crops when they can find them. They will also eat water plants such as cattails and water lilies.

The beaver’s main enemy is man. They are trapped for their fur. The beaver’s fur was worth four dollars in the 1800’s and is worth about thirty dollars today. Dogs, bobcats, and bear may also kill beavers.

A beaver can have 3 to 4 young once a year. They are born with their eyes open and have teeth. A beaver can swim shortly after birth. They stay with their families to raise their own families.

Beavers live in colonies. A colony is 5-12 beavers of the same family. The two-year-old beavers will leave the colony and move to a new part of the stream, find a mate, and build their own dams. This is where the beavers will start their own family.