Beavers: Nature’s Architects

Beavers are a very unique species in the world of nature and wildlife, and for a while, it looked like this furry friend was going to be extinct. At one point, the population of beavers in North America was known to be as high as 60 million, but by the 1990’s it was as low as 6 millions. Recently, beavers have made a comeback in the woods and in their original surroundings. Have you wondered what caused their disappearance? When you find out why they have been decreasing in number, you’ll be appalled.

It seems as if everything about beavers was a resource to people. The main reason why beavers seem to be endangered species is because they are often hunted for fur. Beavers began dying out because humans harvested the woods that they made their homes from, and because pollution began hurting the environment until it no longer was hospitable for beavers. Yet, this wasn’t the only problem beavers faced in recent times.

Known for its flat tail, its buck teeth, and the ability to create dams in rivers, beavers were once regarded as pests by homeowners and rangers alike. Most of the reason why beavers were considered to be pesky critters was because of the fact that the dams they make often redirect rivers. In turn, those dams often made problems for developers who wanted to use the land for other things. This contributed greatly to their number reduction even those who were against fur didn’t seem to want them around.

As a natural part of the ecosystems of Canada and the United States, beavers need to stay alive in their natural habitats. Building their dams creates deadwood, which is a necessary part of life for many different plants and animals that use if for both food and shelter. The dams that beavers build also are necessary when it comes to preventing rampant flooding should a major storm occur.

Most people who know about the ecology are quick to mention that beavers are necessary in order to keep certain ecosystems extant. The majority of the reasons why we need beavers is because they are one of the very few species that can build dams. Damming a river helps rivers avoid overflowing, and they help create wetlands. Wetlands are currently endangered throughout the United States and Canada, so keeping these areas alive with beavers is a must. Otherwise, hundreds of other species might perish.

Yet, up until recently, they were an endangered species. With the help of wildlife foundations, beavers have become endangered species that are now returning to the wild and increasing in numbers. These days, filmmakers are starting to pay attention to the furry nature friend, and are beginning to document it, its habitat, as well as its habits. By doing so, they are also raising awareness.

If attention is not paid, the beaver will begin to dwindle in numbers once more, and become extinct. It’s time to document them before it’s too late. With hope, they will become popular once more.