Beaver

Castor canadensis

Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae

Status: An abundant, important fur animal and water conservationist. Its value as a fur animal was responsible for much of the early exploration of North America. Is one of the most intensively studied furbearers in North America. Official Montana furbearer managed and protected by regulated fur harvest seasons.

Identifying Characteristics: The largest rodent in North America north of Panama. On land is a large, clumsy, hump-backed animal. In the water, becomes sleek and torpedo-shaped. Propels itself with powerful webbed hind feet. Beavers use their large dorsally flattened, scale-covered tail to maneuver in water. Slapping the tail on the water surface is used as a signal of alarm. Beaver also slap their tails during periods of play. Split nail on the second hind toe is used for grooming. Incisors are large and continually growing. Fur is rich brown with black to reddish guard hairs. Underfur is soft and extremely dense with excellent insulating qualities. Both sexes have a pair of anal glands and castor sacs located ventrally. Beavers emit anal gland secretions year round. Total length: 34 to 40 inches. Weight: 30 to 60 pounds and sometimes heavier.

Habitat: Occupies a wide variety of habitats in North America. Water and associated woody vegetation are the most essential components of beaver habitat. Ideal beaver living sites include ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers.

Food Habits: Beavers are strict herbivores. Beavers eat a variety of woody and herbaceous species. Willows, mountain alder, and aspen are important foods. Will also consume herbaceous vegetation during summer. Much of the woody vegetation beavers cut is not used for food. Caches woody vegetation near shore for winter food.

Life History: Builds stick and mud dams across streams. Mostly nocturnal. May build large conical houses at the edge of a lake or burrow into the bank for a den along rivers. Beaver life is based on a family unit consisting of a pair of adults, yearlings, and kits. Breeds form January through March. 2 to 4 young are born after a 105 to 107 day gestation period. One litter per year is produced. Two-year-olds are eventually driven from or leave the parental home.

Similar Species: River otter - tail covered with fur. Muskrat - smaller, tail slender.

Further Information

STATEWIDE SEASON DATES: November 1 - April 15 of the following year, except State Wildlife Management Areas and specific closures (See SPECIAL REGULATIONS).

Limit: None.

Beaver that have been legally trapped can be dispatched with a firearm.

Owners and lessees of property being damaged by beaver may request a free permit to remove beaver under provisions of state law between April 16 - May 31 and Sept. 1 - Oct. 31. A landowner may remove damaging beaver without a permit between June 1 - Aug. 31. Please contact your local game warden for further information and to request a damage control permit.

A person participating in a beaver damage complaint must have in their possession the damage permit issued to the landowner (or a copy thereof) during control activities. Damaging beaver may be removed by trapping or shooting.

Closures - All areas closed to beaver trapping are also closed to otter trapping.

Beaverhead County: Trail Creek and Trapper Creek drainages and Canyon Creek upstream from the National Forest boundary.

Broadwater County: Those portions of Dry Creek, Confederate Gulch, White's Gulch, Avalanche Gulch, Eagle Creek, Crow Creek, Jenkins Creek on public land.

Deer Lodge County: The entire Dry Cottonwood Creek drainage.

Gallatin County: That portion of the Gallatin River and all of its tributaries above the Gallatin River Bridge at the Squaw Creek Ranger Station.

Gallatin and Park Counties: That portion of the Yellowstone River and all of its tributaries inside the Gallatin National Forest boundary above the Yellowstone River Bridge on Interstate Highway 90 at Livingston.

Granite County: The entire Smart Creek, Wyman Creek, Swamp Gulch Creek, and Sand Basin Creek drainages.

Lewis and Clark County: The Blackfoot River upstream from the mouth of Bartlett Creek including the entire Bartlett Creek drainage.

Mineral County: The entire Cedar Creek, Big Creek and Flatrock Creek drainages.

Missoula and Mineral Counties: The entire Fish Creek drainage.

Missoula County: Nine Mile Creek drainage above Pine Creek.

Powell County: The entire Pikes Peak drainage.

Sweet Grass County: That portion of the East Boulder River and all its tributaries from the Gallatin National Forest boundary upstream to the headwaters of the East Boulder River.

Sweet Grass and Park Counties: That portion of the Main Boulder River and all its tributaries from the mouth of Falls Creek upstream to the headwaters of the Main Boulder River.

Teton County: The entire Teton drainage including all tributaries of the South, Middle, West and North Forks of the Teton River, downstream to the National Forest boundary.