Castor canadensis (beaver)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Impact Summary
- Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- Bibliography
- References
- Principal Source
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
Don't need the entire report?
Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need.
Generate reportIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Castor canadensis (Kuhl 1820)
Preferred Common Name
- beaver
International Common Names
- English: American beaver; Canadian beaver; North American beaver
- Spanish: castor americano
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageCastor canadensis (beaver) is native to North America, and has been introduced to Tierra del Fuego in southern South America, Finland, France, Poland and Russia in recent times. In its introduced range, the damming activity of the beaver can cause flooding which can damage forests. They also have the ability to quickly cut down large numbers of trees. In Finland, they compete with native beaver populations. In their native range, they cause flooding on major highways by plugging highway culverts.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Castoridae
- Genus: Castor
- Species: Castor canadensis
Description
Top of pageCastor canadensis (beaver) is a large hervbivorous rodent typically found near water. Adults may be up to 1200mm long and weigh between 18-47kg. Colour ranges from yellowish-brown to black with reddish-brown most common. Guard hairs are long and coarse and the under fur is dense and lead grey in colour. The tail is broad, scaly and dorsoventrally flattened. It is black in young animals but becomes lighter with age. Adaptations for aquatic life include nictitating membranes on the eyes, valvular ears and nose, lips closing behind incisors and webbed hind feet (Jenkins and Busher, 1979; Nummi, 2006).
Distribution
Top of pageNative range: North America from northern Mexico to northern Canada.
Known introduced range: Finland, France, Poland, Russia, Argentine and Chilean Tierra del Fuego
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 17 Dec 2021Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Europe |
|||||||
Austria | Present | Introduced | 1953 | ||||
Belgium | Present | Introduced | 2010 | ||||
Finland | Present | Introduced | 1937 | Invasive | |||
France | Present | Introduced | 1975 | ||||
Germany | Present | Introduced | First reported: 1966-1982 | ||||
Hungary | Present | Introduced | First reported: 1990 - 2000 | ||||
Luxembourg | Present | Introduced | 2010 | ||||
Norway | Present | Introduced | 2001 | ||||
Poland | Present | Introduced | |||||
Russia | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Northern Russia | Present | Introduced | First reported: 1940s | ||||
Ukraine | Absent, Formerly present | First reported: 1933 - 1934 | |||||
United Kingdom | Present | Introduced | 1860 | ||||
North America |
|||||||
Canada | Present | Native | |||||
Mexico | Present | Native | |||||
United States | Present | Native | |||||
-Alaska | Present | Introduced | 1927 | ||||
South America |
|||||||
Argentina | Present | Introduced | 1946 | Invasive | |||
Chile | Present | Introduced | Invasive | First reported: 1950s |
Habitat
Top of pageCastor canadensis (beavers) are always found close to water and they require forest to provide food and building material (Nummi, 2006). Beavers have a unique ability to cut trees and this allows them to build mud and wood lodges in which they live, nest and store food. Lodges may be completely surrounded by water or built on the banks of ponds, lakes or streams.They are also able to build watertight dams which create ponds behind them where the beavers are then able to build lodges (Jenkins and Busher, 1979). This behaviour alters large areas of habitat and is the reason why beavers are termed “ecosystem engineers” (Nummi, 2006).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Multiple | ||||
Terrestrial | ||||
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Cold lands / tundra | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Scrub / shrublands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Freshwater | ||||
Freshwater | Lakes | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Freshwater | Rivers / streams | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageCastor canadensis (beavers) are "choosy generalist" herbivores. They eat leaves, twigs and bark of most species of woody plants growing near water and also herbaceous plants, particularly aquatics. Whilst they have a wide ranging diet they show a large preference for certain plant species such as aspen (Populus spp.) and willow (Sailx spp.). Roots and rhizomes of water lilies are a particularly important source of winter food (Jenkins and Busher, 1979).
The offspring are born fully furred and eyes wide open. They can swim within 24 hours and after several days they are also able to dive out of the lodge without any accompaniment. They leave the dam at two years of age (Anderson, 2002).
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageIntroduction pathways to new locations
Landscape/fauna "improvement":Castor canadensis (beaver) was introduced to southern South American during an Argentine government program to establish furbearers in Tierra del Fuego.
Natural dispersal:Castor canadensis (beavers) have colonized adjacent islands dispersing themselves only by their own means.
Other:Castor canadensis (beaver) was introduced to Finland as part of a programme to reintroduce the European beaver (C. fiber). (Nummi, 2006). They were introduced to Poland and farmed (Nummi, 2006)
Local dispersal methods
Escape from confinement:Castor canadensis (beavers) have escaped from fur farms etc.
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acclimatization societies | Yes | |||
Animal production | Yes | |||
Escape from confinement or garden escape | Yes | |||
Self-propelled | Yes |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Environment (generally) | Negative |
Forestry production | Negative |
Impact
Top of pageGeneral Impacts
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Increases vulnerability to invasions
- Modification of hydrology
- Modification of successional patterns
- Negatively impacts forestry
- Transportation disruption
- Herbivory/grazing/browsing
- Interaction with other invasive species
Uses
Top of pageCastor canadensis (beavers) are trapped and used primarily for their pelt (Langan, 1991). Beavers are being reintroduced to areas where they have been made extinct to improve wetland ecosystems.
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageCastor fiber, the European Beaver, is smaller than Castor canadensis, the American Beaver. The European beaver weighs around 25kg, while the American Beaver weighs around 30-40kg (Streubel, 2000). C. fiber has a coat that varies from a glossy brown to a yellowish brown while C. canadensis has a reddish to blackish brown coat. The two species can also be identified from the secretions of their anal glands with which the animals scent mark the borders of their territories (Rosell and Sun 1999 in Nummi, 2006). C. canadensis out competed C. fiber in Finland because it uses resources better, has a greater number of offspring, and builds better dams (Nummi, 2000).
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Management Information
Bibliography
Top of pageAlexander, M.D. 1998. Effects of beaver (Castor canadensis) impoundments on stream temperature and fish community species composition and growth in selected tributaries of Miramichi River, New Brunswick. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 0 (2227): 1-44.
Anderson, C.B. 2004. Exotic vertebrate fauna in Cape Horn County, Chile. Report – BIOKONCHIL Biodiversity Assessment Project. UFZ-Halle Environmental Research Center. Leipzig, Germany. 37 pp.
Anderson, C.B., Rozzi, R., McGehee, S.M., Torres-Mura, J.C. and Rosemond, A.D. (in review). Exotic Vertebrate Fauna in the Remote and Pristine Sub-Antarctic Cape Horn Archipelago Region of Chile. Biodiversity and Conservation.
Anderson, R. 2002. "Castor Canadensis", Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Castor_canadensis.html
Bailey, J.K., Schweitzer, J.A., Rehill, B.J., Lindroth, R.L., Martinsen, G.D., and Whitham, T.G. 2004. Beavers as molecular geneticists: A genetic basis to the foraging of an ecosystem engineer. Ecology. 85 (3): 603-608.
Bailey, P. 1997. Beaver upcreek: research links Yoho National Park's buck-toothed rodents to biological diversity. Beautiful British Columbia. 39: 37.
Beavers: Wetland and Wildlife. 2002. BWW INC. http://www.beaversww.org/index.html
Bonino, N.A. 1995. Introduced mammals in Patagonia, southern Argentina: consequences, problems and management considerations. Pages 406-409 in J. A. Bissonette and P. R. Krausman, editors. First International Wildlife Management Congress. The Wildlife Society, Maryland USA
Briones, M., Schlatter, R., Wolodarsky, A. and Venegas C. 2001. Clasificación ambiental para hábitat de Castor canadensis (Kuhl 1820, Rodentia), de acuerdo a características de cuencas en un sector de Tierra del Fuego. Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, Serie de Ciencias Naturales. 29: 75-93.
Coronato, A., Escobar, J., Mallea, C., Roig, C.,and Lizarralde, M. 2003. Geomorphological characteristics of mountain watershed rivers colonized by Castor canadensis in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ecologia Austral. 13 (1): 15-26.
Di Paola, M.E. and Kravetz, D.G. 1999. Invasive Alien Species: Legal and Institutional Framework in Argentina. Workshop on the legal and institutional dimensions of invasive alien species. IUCN.
Edmonton. 1995. A plague of compulsive dam builders: 1994 was a bumper year in Alberta for bothersome beavers. Western Report. 9: 22-23.
Genovesi, P. 2005. Eradications of invasive alien species in Europe: a review. Biological Invasions. 7 (1): 127-133.
Guillermo, Martínez Pastur; Lencinas, M. Vanessa; Escobar, Julio; Quiroga, Paula; Malmierca, Laura & Lizarralde, Marta., 2006. Understorey succession in Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) affected by Castor canadensis. Applied Vegetation Science 9: 143-154, 2006 Lizarralde, Marta; Julio Escobar; Guillermo Deferrari., 2004. Invader species in Argentina: A Review about the beaver (Castor canadensis) population situation on Tierra del Fuego Ecosystem. July 2004, Vol 29 No 7 Interciencia
Harkonen, S. 1999. Forest damage caused by the Canadian beaver (Castor canadensis) in South Savo Finland. Silva Fennica. 33 (4): 247-259.
IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)., 2010. A Compilation of Information Sources for Conservation Managers Involved in the Prevention, Eradication, Management and Control of the Spread of Invasive Alien Species that are a Threat to Native biodiversity and Natural Ecosystems.
Jaksic, F.M., Agustin Iriarte, J., Jiminez, J.E., and Martinez, D.R. 2002. Invaders without frontiers: cross border invasions of exotic mammals. Biological Invasions. 4: 157-173.
Jenkins, S.H. and Busher, P.E. 1979. Castor canadensis. Mammalian Species 120: 1-8.
Jensen, P.G., Curtis, P.D., Lehnert, M.E., and Hamelin, D.L. 2001. Habitat and structural factors influencing beaver interference with highway culverts. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 29 (2): 654-664.
Langan, F. 1991. Busy beaver boom is wreaking havoc. Christian Science Monitor
Lesica, P. and Miles, S. 2004. Beavers indirectly enhance the growth of Russian olive and tamarisk along eastern Montana rivers. Western North American Naturalist. 64 (1): 93-100.
Lizarralde, M., Escobar, J. & Guillermo. 2004. Invasder species in Argentina: a review about the beaver (Castor canadensis) population situation on Tierra del Fuego ecosystem. Interciencia 29(7): 352-356.
Lizarralde, M.S. 1993. Current status of the introduced beaver (Castor canadensis) population in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ambio. 22: 351-358.
Lizarralde, M.S. and Escobar, J. 2000. Mamíferos exóticos en la Tierra del Fuego. Ciencia Hoy 10.
Lizarralde, M.S. and Venegas, C. 2001. El castor: un ingeniero exótico en las tierras más australes del planeta. In: R. Primack, R. Rozzi, P. Feinsinger, R. Dirzo and F. Massardo. Fundamentos de Conservación Biológica: Perspectivas Latinoamericanas. pp. 231-232. Fondo de Cultura Económica, Ciudad de México.
Lizarralde, M.S., Bailliet, G., Poljak, S., Fasanella, M. & Giulivi, C. 2008. Assessing genetic variation and population structure of invasive North American beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) in Tierra Del Fuego (Argentina). Biological Invasions 10: 673-683.
Lizarralde, M.S., Deferrari, G., Alvarez, S.E. and Escobar, J. 1996. Effects of beaver (Castor canadensis) on the nutrient dynamics of the Southern Beech forest of Tierra del Fuego. Ecologia Austral. 6: 101-105.
Lizarralde, M.S., Deferrari, G., Escobar, J. and Álvarez, S. 1996. Estado de la población de Castor canadensis introducida en Tierra del Fuego y su estudio cromosómico. PID-BID 50/92, Dirección General de Recursos Naturales de la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, Ushuaia, Argentina.
Lizarralde, Marta Susana; Graciela Bailliet; Sebastia´n Poljak; Mariana Fasanella; Cecilia Giulivi., 2008. Assessing genetic variation and population structure of invasive North American beaver (Castor Canadensis Kuhl, 1820) in Tierra Del Fuego (Argentina). Biol Invasions (2008) 10:673–683 DOI 10.1007/s10530-007-9161-6
Lizarralde, Marta; Julio Escobar; Guillermo Deferrari y Mariana Fasanella., 2008. El castor austral. INVESTIGACION Y CIENCIA, abril, 2008
Lizarralde, Marta; Julio Escobar; Guillermo Deferrari., 2004. Invader species in Argentina: A review about the beaver (Castor canadensis) population situation on Tierra del Fuego Ecosystem. July 2004, Vol 29, Number 7. Interciencia
Martinez Pastur, G., Lencinas, M.V., Escovar, J., Quiroga, P., Malmierca, L. & Lizarralde, M. 2006. Understorey succession in Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) affected by Castor canadensis. Applied Vegetation Science 9: 143-154.
Massoia, E. and Chebez, J.C. 1993. Mamíferos silvestres del Archipiélago Fueguino. L.O.L.A., Buenos Aires. 261 pp.
McKinstry, M.C., and Anderson, S.H. 1998. Using snares to live-capture beaver, Castor canadensis. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 112 (3): 469-473.
Mellink, E. and Luevano, J. 1998. Status of beavers (Castor canadensis) in Valle de Mexicali, Mexico. Bulletin Southern California Academy of Sciences. 97 (3): 115-120.
Monroe, B. 1998. State Mascot and Pest. The Oregonian. A17. 17 June.
Nummi, P. 2000. Canadian Beaver (Castor canadensis). Department of Applied Biology, University of Helsinki. http://www.ymparisto.fi/download.asp?contentid=34577&lan=FI#search=%22Nummi%2C%20P.%202000.%20Canadian%20Beaver%20(Castor%20canadensis).%20Department%20of%20Applied%20Biology%2C%20University%20of%20Helsinki.%22
Nummi, P. 2006: NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Castor canadensis. – From: Online Database of the North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species – NOBANIS www.nobanis.org.
Ray, A.M.; Rebertus, A.J.; Ray, H.L. 2001. Macrophyte succession in Minnesota beaver ponds. Canadian Journal of Botany. 79: 487-499.
Rinaldi, C., and Cole, T.M. 2004. Environmental seasonality and incremental growth rates of beavers (Castor canadensis) incisors: implications for palaeobiology. Palaeogeography-Palaeoclimatology-Palaeoecology. 206: 289-301.
Rosell, Frank, Boszer, Orsolya, Collen, Peter & Parker, Howard., 2005. Ecological impact of beavers Castor fiber and Castor canadensis and their ability to modify ecosystems. Mammal Review 35 (3-4), 248-276.
Rozzi, R. and Massardo, F. 2002. Antecedentes de Biodiversidad y Sitios Prioritarios en la Comuna Cabo de Hornos: Recopilación de Información sobre los Ecosistemas Subantárticos en Apoyo a la Estrategia Nacional y Plan de Acción para la Biodiversidad. Informe Técnico. Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente XII Región, Punta Arenas, Chile.
Rozzi, R. and Sherriffs, M.F. 2003. El visón (Mustela vison Schreber, Carnivora: Mustelidae), un nuevo mamíferos exótico para la Isla Navarino. Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia 31:97-104.
Rozzi, R., Massardo, F., Berghoefer, A., Anderson, C., Berghoefer, U. and Araya, P. 2004. Documento Base para la Incorporación del Territorio Insular del Cabo de Hornos a la Red Mundial de Reservas de Biosfera. Programa MaB - UNESCO. 173 pp.
Sielfeld, W. and Venegas, C. 1980. Poblamiento e impacto ambiental de Castor canadensis Kuhl, en Isla Navarino, Chile. Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia. 11: 247-257.
Skewes, O., González, F., Rubilar, L. and Quezada, M. 1999. Investigación, aprovechamiento y control castor, islas Tierra del Fuego y Navarino. Instituto Forestal-Universidad de Concepción, Punta Arenas.
Streubel, D. 2000. Castor canadensis (American Beaver). http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/mammal/Rod/Beaver/beaver.htm
Torres-Mura, J.C. 2004. Fauna del Archipiélago Fuegino y el Cabo de Hornos. Informe – FDI CORFO, Fundación EuroChile. Santiago, Chile.
References
Top of pageDistribution References
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Contributors
Top of pagePrincipal sources: Christopher Anderson and Brett Maley, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30605 and Omora Foundation, Puerto Williams, XII Region, Chile.
Nummi, P. 2006. NOBANIS – Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Castor canadensis.
Jenkins, S.H. and Busher, P.E. 1979. Castor canadensis. Mammalian Species
Jenkins and Busher, 1979 and Nummi, 2006
|
Distribution Maps
Top of pageSelect a dataset
Map Legends
-
CABI Summary Records
Map Filters
Unsupported Web Browser:
One or more of the features that are needed to show you the maps functionality are not available in the web browser that you are using.
Please consider upgrading your browser to the latest version or installing a new browser.
More information about modern web browsers can be found at http://browsehappy.com/