Beavers are the second largest rodents in the world and the largest in the Northern hemisphere.  There are two species: Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the Canadian beaver (Castor canadensis).  Beavers can weigh up to 25kg with a body length of up to 95cm, 35cm of which is tail.  Females are slightly larger than the males, although not easy to distinguish apart. Their life expectancy in the wild is around seven to eight years of age.

Beavers are well adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle and can actively dive for up five minutes, or remain underwater inactive for up to twenty minutes. 

Their tail is an essential tool for the beaver acting as a ’Swiss army knife’.  As well as aiding the beaver for propulsion and for movement, it is also a fat store and can act as a support whilst sitting down. Contrary to belief, the tail is not used as a building tool.

The beavers back feet are large and webbed which are important for propulsion in water, whereas the front feet are much smaller and are important for digging, grasping and grooming.  

Beaver’s front feet have fingers with long nails and in fact have a split toenail which enables them to groom their pelt.

The species is monogamo us and adult pairs typically produce two or three young, or “kits”, each year. They live in family groups often comprising an adult pair, the kits of the current year and the young from the previous year. The kits will stay with the adults as a family for the first two years and then move out to find their own territories.