The Beaver
Beavers are large, aquatic, partly nocturnal rodents belonging to the family Castoridae. There are two species: Castor Fiber is the Old World beaver, now found mainly in France, Germany, Poland, Russia and Scandinavia. C Canadensis is the North American beaver, which lives in woodlands from northern Mexico to Alaska and Canada. Once overtrapped for its fur until it was confined to a far western habitat, this beaver has now returned to eastern regions.
Beavers are thickset and heavy, about 1.2 m (4 ft) long, including a 30 cm (1 ft) paddle-shaped tail; they weight as much as 32 kg (70 lb). Their legs are short and their hind feet large and webbed. They use their forepaws like hands. A pair of anal musk glands, or castors, produce castoreum, used in making perfume. Dense brown to tan underfur is covered by coarse guard hairs. Chisellike front teeth enable the beaver to gnaw down trees used for building dams, island lodges, and canals. Beavers float small trees and branches through canals to the stream where they are building. The lodge has underwater entrances to keep out predators, with a large dry room inside that is used as a nursery and haven.
Beavers feed on marsh grasses, roots, barks, and twigs. They mate in January-February, and one to eight young are born in April-May. Beavers reach maturity in 2-3 years and live about 16 years.
Beaver Scouts are not only named after the Beaver animal but they also base some of their communal activities around them too. Beaver Scouts assemble in lodges at the beginning and close of their meeting. The Beaver's natural habitat is called a "Lodge". This is made of mounds of sticks, moss and stones with dome shaped roofs plastered with mud.
Beaver Scouts are given the opportunity to learn about the Beaver animal as part of their programme. They discover many fascinating facts such as where Beavers come from, what they eat, how they live and what their young are called.