Mountain+Beavers

Mountain Beavers By Kelly L.

Mountain beavers are found in the Pacific coastal states of the U.S. They can also inhabit further south and east states, but the numbers in those areas are more scattered. Mountain beavers usually make their homes in or near wooded lands with big amounts of tangled plants such as ferns and blackberries. Forests are where mountain beavers thrive, especially douglas fir and western hemlock forests. Small streams and most ravines serve the mountain beaver well. They will make a burrow system. These burrows are generally one-half to six feet deep, with ten to thirty entry holes. Their burrows are often located under old logs. Inside these burrows, the mountain beaver will build a nest out of vegetation where it can sleep and have shelter if any danger comes near. Mountain beavers usually eat vegetation. They will also eat almost anything that surrounds them in their habitat. The mountain beaver perfers sword and bracken fern, if they are available. While searching for food, they will stay within fifty feet of their nest. Sometimes, mountain beavers even climb trees in order to find food. They will cut off tree branches and girdle the base of the tree, which means they chew a ring around the bottom. Also, they will eat the root system of the tree. Mountain beavers don't need water while feeding, they get all the moisture from the vegetation they eat. The mountain beavers can be grayish brown or reddish brown. A white bare spot under the ears is able to be seen. The feet are lightly furred on top and bare on the bottom, the feet are also webbed. The young are generally darker than the adults. The mountain beaver's tail is paddle-like and about one inch long. The adults weigh about 2.3 pounds, but range from 1.8 to 3.5 pounds. Average overall length is about 13.5 inches long. The hind feet are about two inches long and slightly longer than the front feet. The front legs are used for grasping and climbing. Breeding takes place from February to April. Two to Four young are born after about a 28-30 day gestation period. Mountain beavers are an endangered species becasue of loss of habitat. Its numbers are decreasing because of California's growing population. Loggers and paper factories cut down trees everyday for for our paper and for our homes. We can save them from extiction by cutting the minimal amount of trees in the forests. We can also stop killing them for their fur. Moving them could be fatal.