Beavers - Facts for Kids

Diet & Feeding

Beavers can eat up to 20% of their body weight in plants and bark each day!

Beavers prefer to eat the inner bark (cambium — the soft layer under tree bark) of trees like aspen, willow, and cottonwood!

A beaver’s strong jaws can cut through a 5-inch thick tree trunk in just a few minutes!

Beavers store branches underwater during winter, and the cold water keeps the wood fresh for months!

Beavers chew through whole trees, but they don’t eat the hard wood. They snack on the soft inner bark, leaves, twigs, and buds — then use the leftover wood to build dams and lodges!

A single beaver family can cut down hundreds of trees each year for food and construction (building)!

Beavers have special bacteria (tiny helpers) in their digestive system (stomach area) that helps them break down wood fiber!

Beavers gather extra food in autumn to prepare for winter when food is scarce (hard to find)!

Beavers can identify (recognize) different types of trees by their bark and choose the most nutritious (healthy) ones!

Young beavers learn which plants are safe to eat by watching their parents!

Conservation & Population

Beavers were once almost extinct (all gone) due to hunting for their fur, but their numbers have recovered (grown back) in many areas!

There are now an estimated (counted to be about) 10-15 million beavers in North America!

Beaver dams help prevent soil erosion (dirt washing away) and create habitats (homes) for endangered species (animals that might disappear)!

Beavers are sometimes called “nature’s engineers” because their dams help maintain (keep) healthy ecosystems (nature communities)!

Scientists are now using beavers to help restore (fix) damaged watersheds (water areas) and wetlands (swampy areas)!

Beaver ponds can help reduce the impact of wildfires by creating natural firebreaks (areas that stop fires from spreading)!

A single beaver pond can provide habitat (homes) for up to 50 different species (types) of animals!

Beavers are protected by law in many countries to prevent overhunting (hunting too much)!

Some cities are using beavers as a natural solution to water management (controlling water) problems!

Beaver dams can help reduce flooding by slowing down water flow during heavy rains!

Fun and Unique Facts

The largest beaver that ever lived was as big as a black bear!

Some beaver lodges have been used by generations (many families over time) of beaver families for over 20 years!

A beaver’s teeth are so sharp that Native Americans used to use them as cutting tools!

Beavers were once considered fish by the Catholic Church because they spend so much time in water!

The city of Toronto, Canada, was founded in an area that was once full of beaver dams!

Beavers appear on the Canadian nickel and were once on the country’s first pictorial (picture) postage stamp!

The oldest known beaver dam is over 150 years old!

Beavers can influence (change) the temperature (how hot or cold) of streams by creating deep pools of water!