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In Lewis and Clark's time, beaver fur was in great demand for making beautiful fur coats and felt hats. These were high fashion and expensive. Thus a high price was paid for beaver skins. In his final report to President Jefferson, Lewis noted that "the Missouri and all its [tributaries] abound with more beaver. . .than any other streams on earth" and that most of them were in the Rocky Mountains. This report set off a sort of "gold rush" for beaver fur, and in a few short years, the mountains and streams of the Rocky Mountains were filled with trappers, known as "Mountain Men." |
 Beavers soon became the most hunted animal in North
America. There seemed to be millions of the animals, and no one thought that they
would ever run out. However, by the late 1800s, there were hardly any beaver
left. Beavers are now protected in the United States and Canada, so there are now
wild beavers again---but not millions! |
Beavers live in rivers, smaller streams, and lakes. There are more beavers in the United States and Canada than anywhere else in the world. They cut down trees with their sharp, chisel-like front teeth, and use the trees and smaller branches to build dams across streams. The dams create pools where the beavers build homes (lodges) underwater. Beavers can swim as far as a half mile under water and hold their breath for 15 minutes.
A beaver is three to four feet long (including the 12-inch tail) and weigh from 40 to 60 pounds. It is the largest rodent in North America. The fur is soft and dense and remarkably beautiful. The beaver's rear feet are webbed, making it a powerful swimmer and diver. Its tail is wide and flat and is used for steering when the animal swims. The beaver's food includes bark and roots of trees and bushes. |
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