American Beaver

Justin moved to The Zoo from the Pittsburgh Zoo in March of 2020. At 3 months old, Cedar was found as an oprhaned kit after humans had killed her family and destroyed their lodge. She was rescued by a rehabilitation center in South Carolina, but it was quickly determined that she could not be safely released into the wild as she had never lived on her own. Justin and Cedar get along swimmingly! (Get it?)

Castor canadensis

10-15 years in the wild, 20-25 years under human care

American beavers are semiaquatic and native to forests throughout North America with access to bodies of water.

Beavers are entirely herbivorous with a diet of twigs, branches, buds, and aquatic plants.

Beavers exhibit a variety of vocalizations and will slap their tails against the water when alarmed. Baby beavers, called kits, will typically stay with their family utnil they are full grown, at about 2 years old.

Conservation Status

Threats in the Wild

There are no major threats to American beavers. They are hunted for pelts in certain parts of the world, especially in areas where their dam building is deemed undesirable by humans.

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