BEAVER

The beaver is North America's largest rodent and is found throughout Pennsylvania.

On average adult beavers weigh 40-60 pounds and grow up to 40 inches in length. They have blunt heads, dark brown fur, and a paddle like tail. The beaver prefers to live near water in lakes, rivers, or creeks. Chewed trees, saplings and shrubary is a telltale sign of a beaver present. Beavers gnaw trees into pieces which are then used in building dams and lodges.

Beavers can and do become troublesome for some people. Water backed up by their dams floods pastures, crop fields and roads, disrupts public water supplies and kills trees. They also cut down valuable shade trees and excavate unwanted channels.

Trapping and relocation is a humane and effective method to control beaver problems.