Nature’s engineers are rebuilding more than just dams: They’re leading the way in natural restoration. The beaver is North America’s largest rodent, weighing up to 60 pounds, and it has a complex relationship with Northeast Ohio’s environment.
Beavers’ webbed feet, waterproof fur, clear third eyelids and rudder-like tail equip them to be excellent in the water. Rich in iron, their front teeth allow them to chew through hard woods and are necessary for survival. Beavers create, modify and maintain habitats, largely impacting the biodiversity of an area, says Rocky River Nature Center lead Naturalist Karen Lakus. “They’re what we call a keystone species,” she says.
Population Rebound
Overtrapping caused the beaver to be extirpated from Ohio by 1830. “When people of European descent began coming to Ohio, they trapped beavers to make hats and coats from their pelts to send back to Europe,” Lakus says.
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Beavers were first seen back in Ohio waterways in the 1930s. The species has since fully recovered and its population is steadily increasing, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. An estimated 30,000 beavers currently reside in Ohio. There are specific hunting and trapping regulations in place, says ODNR Wildlife Officer Mike Greer. “We manage how to trap appropriately while simultaneously conserving the species,” he says.
Dam Damage
Instinctively, beavers build dams using sticks and mud to create deep, protected waters to provide them with safety from predators and a suitable habitat. Beaver dams are beneficial to the environment; their presence maintains the health and diversity of the ecosystem, Lakus says. Numerous species depend on the wetlands beavers create.
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Dams can create a conflict with humans when beavers dam up areas and create flooding for cropland or in areas humans are looking to build infrastructure, but there are ways to combat those concerns. “It’s really important to realize wildlife is instinctively going to maintain their behaviors, but humans have the capacity to change and adapt to those behaviors,” Lakus says.
The Beaver Lodge
Resembling a dome-shaped structure, beavers build lodges to keep the warmth in and predators out. They are generally built on the banks of water and have an underwater entrance. “They can live there year round, give birth and raise their babies and will usually cache food right outside of the lodge entrance,” Lakus says.
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Spot a Beaver on Your Own
With a pair of binoculars and a little patience, you may catch a glimpse of these fascinating critters. Test your luck at the Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (3801 Riverview Road, Peninsula). The best chance to see a beaver is at dusk or dawn when they’re most active, Lakus says.
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(Lead photo courtesy Flickr User Peter Abrahamsen)
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