BEAVERS 
IDENTIFICATION: Beavers are bulky
animals belonging to the rodent family and are the largest of the species found
in Illinois. Adults usually weigh 40-50
pounds, but some older adults can reach weights of over 90 pounds. Their waterproof fur is dark brown with a
lighter reddish brown or yellowish fur below.
Their most prominent feature is a black, almost hairless, paddle shaped
tail. Beavers can be found throughout
all of Illinois.
BEHAVIOR: Beavers are well adapted to living in
water. They can be found in streams,
rivers, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes, and anywhere there is continuous supply
of water. They will build dams across any
length of moving water changing the environment more to their liking. They will either build huts or dig holes in
the sides of the bank with the entrance to both being under water and gradually
sloping up to dry areas for dens.
Beavers typically stay within ½ mile of their den, and are most active
at night during the periods of dusk and dawn.
They use their tales as rudders when swimming and to help them sit up
when on land. Beavers eat the bark off
of trees like poplar, pine, willow, or maple although they will eat the bark
off of almost any tree or plant that grows near the water along with aquatic
plants. A beaver has 4 large and very long teeth used primarily for gnawing.
Their teeth continue to grow during their lifetime and are continually
sharpened by their gnawing. A beaver
can chew through a 5” diameter willow tree within minutes. The typical life span of a beaver is about
10 years.
DAMAGE
CONCERNS: The most common damage
from beavers is a result of flooding caused by their dams. They can dam up areas such as culverts,
drainage ditches, and drainpipes. Dams 4-8 feet in height are common. Building additional dams further downstream
are also common. This gives them better
access to food and helps to back up the water against the base of the main
dam. Beavers also decimate an area of
foliage by chewing and feeding on trees.
REPRODUCTION: Beavers have
their kits between March and June, after a gestation period of about 128
days. Their litter is usually 3-4 young
but a few do have as many as 6-7. The
babies are weaned between 6 weeks and 3 months old, and will stay with their
parents until they become sexually mature.
At this point the young will leave or the parents will drive them out to
make room for a new litter. Because of
this the colony size of beavers stays at about 8 to 12 members. This cycle repeats itself every year so that
there are no more than 2 successive litters in a colony.
DISEASES: Beavers carry an infectious bacterial disease called TULAREMIA.
Eating or drinking contaminated food or water or coming into contact
with contaminated tissue or blood of a beaver can transmit tularemia to
humans. Symptoms include sudden fever,
aches and pains, joint pain, headaches, weakness, vomiting, or pneumonia.
Please remember that all wildlife in the State of Illinois
is owned by the state unless the animal migrates. If a wild animal migrates it is owned by the federal
government. A license is required to
trap or remove wildlife. If not using a
licensed professional, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources should be
contacted before personally attempting to deal with any wildlife.
T&C Trapping, Inc. offers complete home and business
inspections that are guaranteed to help minimize any future animal problems or
to help solve any existing wildlife conflicts.
We have 16 years experience in installing animal prevention devices,
trapping nuisance wildlife, and repairing homes due to animal damage. Please feel free to call us anytime for
advice, instruction, or estimates.
815-467-4039
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