Beavers

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¶ NAME: Castor canadensis.
¶ SIZE: North America's largest rodent, generally 35 to 50 pounds, with some reaching 80 pounds. Nearly 4 feet in length.
¶ APPEARANCE: Reddish brown to black fur, with webbing on hind feet and valves that cover ears. Broad, flat, hairless and scaled tail. Its four front incisor teeth grow continuously.
¶ DIET: Various vegetation, preferring woody plants for winter food. Favorite trees include aspen, alder, willow, poplar and cottonwood. Beaver often will travel more than 100 yards from water to find preferred foods.
¶ HABITAT: Virtually anyplace with a year-round water source.
¶ HABITS: Mostly nocturnal but might be seen at dusk or dawn.
¶ LIFE SPAN: Average of 10 years; some known to live to 21.
¶ BABIES: Three to four kits are born between March and June and nursed from six weeks to three months.
¶ HISTORY: Beaver were eliminated from much of their historic range during the 1800s by overtrapping. Now, nearly all of Illinois' waterways are home to the beaver.
¶ HOMES: Beaver lodges are dome-shaped and can stand 10 feet high, their entrances under water to bar predators. Made from interwoven branches of aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood, basswood or poplar trees that the beavers fell with their sharp incisors.
¶ OTHER FACTS: Can hold their breath for 15 minutes, mate for life. Produce a rich oil to waterproof their fur. Can cut down a willow 5 inches in diameter in minutes.