American Beaver

Often called “nature’s engineers” and a keystone species of their ecosystems, the American beaver is the largest rodent in North America. The beaver is known for its dam-building abilities, which not only provides safe havens from their predators, but also creates healthy riparian habitats for other wildlife, reduces stream erosion, increases nutrient cycling rates, stores precipitation and seasonal runoff, and provides insurance against drought. It is thought that beaver activity could mitigate the effects of climate change and reverse biodiversity loss. During the 19th century, beavers were hunted for their pelts, often cited as the impetus for westward expansion. Due to the high demand for its fur combined with wetland loss due to agricultural development, beavers were nearly completely extirpated from North America. In response to this, re-establishment programs and hunting regulations were implemented across the United States. The American beaver was subsequently able to make a comeback and is considered a conservation success story. Despite this recovery, American beavers are still subject to threats from human development, habitat degradation, and human-wildlife conflict.