It’s not what you might think! The biggest threat to beavers is not hunters or trappers, although they pose a significant threat. The biggest danger to beavers is habitat loss, fragmentation, and natural predators!

Beavers (Castor canadensis) are creatures of habit and need a lot of space to roam and build a beaver lodge or dam. But as human populations grow and development encroaches on their habitat, beavers are finding it harder and harder to find the space they need. This makes it difficult for them to find mates, build dams, and raise their young.

Various factors affect the lessening beaver population. But we’ll be diving deeper into their biggest threats for now!

The biggest threat to beavers 

In North America, beavers were once found in nearly every watershed. Today, their range has been reduced by about half, and they’ve been extirpated from more than 60% of their former range in the contiguous United States.

Fragmentation happens when a large land area divides into smaller pieces, like a puzzle. When this happens, it creates pockets of habitat that are too small to support beaver populations. This makes it difficult for beavers to find mates and care for their young.

Habitat loss is another big problem for beaver colonies. As humans develop land for housing, farming, and industry, beavers deal with fewer and fewer places to live. In addition, many beaver lodges get destroyed because they pose flooding to nearby homes and businesses.

The other threats to beavers

Beavers are not safe from the realities of the wild. Beavers face threats from natural predators, where they are killed for food or out of mere curiosity by other animals. In some areas, beavers are hunted and trapped for their fur. This is a significant threat to beaver populations, particularly in areas where the animals are already struggling to survive.

Here are the natural predators of beavers:

Red foxes

Red foxes are the most common predator of beavers. They are the most prominent members of the Carnivora order and the largest species of true foxes. Aside from being present throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, these fierce foxes also dwell in small portions of North Africa.

They typically hunt in pairs and eat anything they can catch, including beavers. They’re known to use the power of their vision, smell, and hearing. Their sharp eyesight and sensitive hearing are enough to spot a hiding rabbit or beaver quickly.

Lynx

Lynx are wild cats found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They typically hunt alone and prefer to eat small animals, like rabbits and beavers.

The lynx is known to hunt unfortunate prey, religiously walking, chasing, and flushing. They are experts at hiding while they prepare to launch their attack on other small mammals.

The most notable feature of a lynx is the tufts on its ear. It serves as a hearing aid to help the animal detect the sound of its prey.

Wolves

Wolves are the most prominent canine family members native to Eurasia and North America. They live in packs and hunt in groups and will eat anything they can catch, including beavers.

Wolves have an acute sense of smell and hearing, which helps them locate their prey. They also have sharp eyesight, which allows them to see in low-light conditions. Wolves and beavers usually encounter each other in areas where their habitat overlaps. These are in areas where food and water are abundant.

Bears

Bears are large carnivoran mammals that belong to the Ursidae family. They are typically shy and reclusive but will eat anything they can catch, including beavers.

There are only 8 species of bear that remain in existence. However, their numbers are abundant and appear in several habitat varieties. They are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and only partially in the Southern Hemisphere.

The most significant difference between bears and other predators is that they are plantigrade. This means they walk on the whole of their feet, not just their toes like most animals.

Coyote

The coyote is a canine that is native to North America. They look like their close cousins, the wolves. But don’t get confused! These canines are specifically smaller than them.

Their diet consists of small mammals, including beavers. They typically live and hunt alone but will form packs when necessary. These animals can roam in neighborhoods too! They may rummage through trash cans to pursue the smell that caught their attention.

The coyote has acute senses that help it survive in the wild. It has an excellent understanding of smell, hearing, and eyesight. This allows the animal to locate its prey quickly and avoid being caught by predators.

Bobcat

Bobcats are also known as the red lynx. They are medium-sized cats that are native to North America. Like other felines, they are obligate carnivores, which means their diet revolves around meat.

Bobcats are solitary hunters and are primarily nocturnal and elusive creatures. This helps them avoid being seen by their prey. Their favorite prey includes rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. But in a pinch, they will also eat rabbits, beavers, and other rodents. 

They have sharp vision and hearing, which allows them to see and hear their prey from a distance. They also have a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate their prey.

Cougars

Cougars are also known as mountain lions, panthers, and pumas. They are large cats native to and exist throughout Canada and South America and are widespread in the western hemisphere.

Cougars are very good in ambush. Their strategy is to stalk their prey and attack it when unaware. Cougars hunt alone and typically kill animals that are smaller or slightly larger than them, such as deer, elk, moose, and beavers.

While they are fierce and brave, they are not considered apex predators. This means that they are not at the top of the food chain and can be preyed upon by other animals.

Fisher

Fishers are small mammals native to North America and the boreal forests of Canada. They are members of the Mustelid family and closely related to the marten.

Fishers look a bit like bears, but they have more slender and longer bodies. They are exciting predators because they have retractable claws, similar to cats. Contrary to their thin bodies, fishers have short legs. They have large, rounded ears close to their heads, and they have sharp, powerful fangs.

These predators typically hunt alone and are proficient climbers. These animals love small to mid-sized mammals, including squirrels, mice, snowshoe hares, mountain beavers, and birds.

Dogs

Unexpectedly, dogs become harsh and curious animals too! Dogs are canines that humans have domesticated. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Chihuahua to the massive St. Bernard.

Dogs have a wide range of diets depending on their size, activity level, and health condition. However, all dogs are carnivores and need meat to survive.

While most dogs are not wild animals, some live in the wild. These include feral dogs, stray dogs, and wild dogs. Wild dogs have never been domesticated and live in the wild. Feral dogs are domestic dogs that have been abandoned or have run away from home and have returned to a wild state. Stray dogs are domestic dogs that have been lost or abandoned and live independently.

Beaver Facts For You!

Beaver facts have quite a record of environmental benefits. For one, beaver dams help control floods by slowing the flow of water and improving water quality. They also create wetlands home to many different animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Did you know… that the beaver colony is ecosystem engineers? Beavers also help reduce erosion and restore wetland habitat. This is achieved when they build dams and create ponds. A beaver dam slows water flow, and the ponds act as a buffer between the water and the land.

Scientists also report that preserving their habitats aids in the effects of climate change. With the rising temperature, heatwaves, decreasing water levels, and droughts becoming more frequent, their habitats improve the fire resistance of landscapes.

Despite these benefits, these beings fall ill at the hands of humans. They are hunted for their coats, commonly referred to as beaver pelts. Beavers were abundant when they first started to settle North America. But the fur trade in European countries has nearly caused the beaver family’s extinction. Good thing they’re now of least concern due to reintroduction and protection efforts. 

Other beavers are also killed because they damage crops and property. In some cases, beavers are even seen as a nuisance and are killed for sport.

Need Help With Beaver On Your Property?

If you notice beaver destruction activities on your property, it is always best to contact AAAC Wildlife Removal. They will be able to assess the situation and provide you with the best course of action. We offer beaver control services in effectively removing beavers from your property. Contact us today to learn more! 

Conclusion

The biggest threat to beavers is fragmentation and habitat loss. This is because beavers require large tracts of land to build beaver ponds and lodges. When their wildlife habitat is fragmented, it limits their ability to build these structures, leading to a decline in their population.

Fragmentation can also lead to increased predation by animals such as bobcats, cougars, fishers, and dogs. Their fragmented habitats allow these predators to surprise and attack beavers. To learn more about the biggest threat to beavers, click here: biggest threat to beavers.

If you’re concerned about the conservation and well-being of beavers or facing issues with wildlife on your property, AAAC Wildlife Removal is here to assist. Our team of professionals can provide expert guidance and services to help mitigate conflicts and promote the coexistence of wildlife and humans.

FAQs

What do beavers look like?

Beavers are large, furry animals with short, stout tails. They have webbed hind feet and large front teeth for cutting down trees.

How many kits can beavers have?

Beavers typically have two to four baby beavers per litter after their mating season from January to March.

What do beavers eat?

Beavers are herbivores whose diet consists of bark, twigs, leaves, and other vegetation. And since they’re semiaquatic, they also get to eat aquatic plants. Beavers also gnaw on wood or trees and clip branches from falling logs.

Can you deceive a beaver?

Beavers are not always good companions. They can become a nuisance when building dams in or near culverts. In this situation, a beaver deceiver can be effective. These devices are like a cage made of wires. They prevent dam building on brooks, rivers, or streams.

Can beavers carry diseases?

Yes, beavers are capable of carrying a parasite, infection, or disease. The common ones are rabies, giardia, and E. coli. These can be passed on to humans and other animals, causing mild to severe conditions and even death. Beavers can cause human injury too. So make sure you don’t threaten them and invade their territories.