Beaver Habitat – Humane Wildlife Removal

Where Do Beavers Live?

Beavers can be found across the entire world, but most of the population resides in North America due to overhunting in Europe. They stray away from places that are too cold or dry, so you won’t find any in the northern parts of Canada, the deserts of Mexico, or the western United States.

Beavers Live Near Water

A beaver’s natural habitat is always near a body of water, as they are semi-aquatic rodents. These bodies of water include ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps. Essentially, all freshwater biomes as long as there is sufficient foliage surrounding the area. They won’t inhabit an area that is barren even if it has a river or a lake. Wood and plants aren’t just used for building their homes, they’re also what beavers eat.

Beavers Live in Lodges

Beavers are known for making dams that create pools of water like ponds and even lakes. Fun fact: the largest beaver dam is 2790 feet long in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. The rising water level actually protects the beaver’s real home, which is called a lodge. These lodges are usually found along the shoreline and they can be seen just barely above water level.

Beaver lodges are dome-shaped and sometimes have two entrances, one of which is underwater for easy-access swimming. They are woven together with sticks, grass, and moss, then glued together with mud. This makes for a safe, structurally sound home for a beaver to raise their young, sleep, and hide from predators.

Since these lodges are made along the shoreline, their dams help to keep them submerged and further protected from predators. This is why installing beaver pipes is so effective in removing beavers from an area. Since they adjust the water level and expose beaver lodges, it leaves them unprotected.

Beavers are crafty creatures, using all foliage and vegetation to create lodges and dams. They are beneficial to the environment, providing protection, water, and food to all nearby wildlife.