Beaver by the creek

The beaver is a lumberjack, wildlife conservationist, and architect.  They are the largest rodent in North America and are easily identified by their flat, black, scaly tail which acts like a rudder when swimming.  The beaver is designed to live in and around water and they can hold their breath for 15 minutes.   Beavers have valves in their ears, nose, and back of their throat to prevent water from seeping into those areas.  Another aquatic adaptation beavers have developed is a nictitating membrane which is a translucent eyelid.  It acts like underwater goggles, allowing beavers to see as well on land, as under water.

Like all rodents, they have continuously growing incisors, which need to be trimmed by gnawing on wood.  They are herbivores, eating twigs, leaves, tree bark and water plants.  Beavers topple trees in order to construct dams and lodges.  A good indicator that beavers are living nearby is the prevalence of pointed tree stumps.  Beaver teeth have a hard orange enamel on the front and a softer enamel on the back, which wears away faster.  This creates a chisel-like point to make gnawing through wood extremely efficient.  A beaver can gnaw through a five-inch diameter tree in five minutes.

Beavers were the most hunted animal from the 1600’s to the 1800’s due to their valuable fur. Beaver fur has two layers, a fatty inner layer and a waterproof outer layer.  This made beaver hats popular with hunters and eventually beaver hats and clothing became fashionable in Europe.  As a result, it is estimated that between 60-400 million beavers were trapped and killed in North America.  The beaver trade was one of the major reasons people spread west and settled this country. 

By the late 1800’s, beavers were almost extinct and had completely vanished from Virginia.  In 1950-52, 2 pairs of beavers were released in Mary Bird Branch and their population has thrived in Prince William Forest Park ever since.  In the late 1990’s, it was estimated that over 80 beavers lived in the park.