beaver

A master of landscape architecture, the European beaver plays a crucial ecological role through its ability to create and maintain habitats. This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of the biology and ecology of the beaver, promotes understanding of its importance, and supports efforts to protect its natural environment.

The beaver reaches 80 to 100 cm in body length and weighs 11 to 30 kg. As a herbivore, the beaver eats aquatic plants, bark, leaves, and twigs, primarily from willows, poplars, and maples. Its life expectancy is up to 24 years.

Beavers for Garden, Educational Trail & Classroom

Profile: beaver

  • Scientific classification

    • Class: Mammalia (mammals)
    • Order: Rodentia (rodents)
    • Family: Castoridae (beavers)
    • Genus: Castor
    • Species: C. fiber (European beaver)

  • Physical characteristics

    • Size: Body length of 80-100 cm
    • Tail length: 25-37 cm (flat, scaly tail)
    • Weight: 11-30 kg, average about 18 kg
    • Special features: Brown to reddish-brown fur, excellent swimmers, distinctive incisors that grow continuously.

  • Habitat and distribution

    • Common regions: Europe and parts of Asia; reintroduction projects have restored presence in many native habitats.
    • Habitat: Rivers, lakes, ponds and their banks; prefer areas with abundant aquatic plants.
    • Adaptability: Highly adaptable, known for the ability to manipulate the environment by building dams and castles.

  • Nutrition

    • Diet: Herbivore
    • Typical food: aquatic plants, bark, leaves and twigs, mainly from willows, poplars and maples.

  • Reproduction and lifestyle

    • Mating season: Winter (January-February)
    • Gestation period: Approx. 105 days
    • Litter size: Average 2-4 young
    • Social structure: Very social, living in family groups that build buildings and dams together.

  • Lifespan and protection status

    • Life expectancy: Up to 24 years in the wild
    • Endangered status: Least concern; populations are stable or increasing thanks to conservation measures and reintroduction programs.
    • Protection measures: protection of aquatic habitats, legal provisions to protect against hunting and habitat destruction.

  • That's how big beavers really are

    • Beaver: 80 × 37 cm

    Dimensions of the life-size cutouts (width × height), printed at a 1:1 scale.

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