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The beaver (Castor canadensis) is Florida's largest
rodent, normally weighing 30-50 pounds. The fur is brown, with a
dense grayish underfur. The back feet are webbed for swimming and
the broad flat tail is used as a rudder, a propeller, or may be slapped
on the water as a warning. The beaver occurs in North Florida, about
as far south as the mouth of the Suwannee River. Beavers are active at
night, and can live on streams, swamps, or lakes having a suitable supply
of trees for food. They may cut down trees up to a foot in
diameter, and eat the inner bark, twigs, and buds. They will
also transport limbs for building a lodge, where they live as a pair,
with their offspring from two breeding seasons.
In northern Florida beaver dams may block drainage systems
and flood roads, crops, and timberland. Hungry beavers occasionally chew
down ornamental trees and venture into fields to feed on crops like sorghum
and corn. Wire or hardware cloth fencing at least 3.5ft (1.2 m)
high may prevent damage of valuable trees. Daily destruction
of dams and removal of dam building materials sometimes will cause a beaver
colony to abandon an area. The insertion of water control structures
into existing beaver dams can be effective at preventing excessive flooding.
Problems beavers may be trapped and relocated but permits
from the FWC are required from the regional office.
More information
Florida Wildlife Resources Handbook
life history and control information
Non-lethal
beaver control information from "Best of Web guide"
Beaver
information from British Columbia, includes tracks
Illinois
Department of Natural Resources
information
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