The Mountain BeaverThe Mountain Beaver

““The Pacific Northwest's The Pacific Northwest's mysterious little bugger.”mysterious little bugger.”

Outdoor Education “Crazy Critter” Series presents:Outdoor Education “Crazy Critter” Series presents:10/1/1310/1/13

Mountain Beaver (Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufaAplodontia rufa))

A.K.A. Boomer, A.K.A. Boomer, Aplodontia, Ground Aplodontia, Ground Bear, Giant Mole, Bear, Giant Mole, Sewellel BeaverSewellel Beaver

Aplo (simple) Aplo (simple) dontia (tooth) dontia (tooth) rufa (reddish-brown)rufa (reddish-brown)

HabitatHabitat Mountain Beavers live in Mountain Beavers live in

somewhat intricate burrows that somewhat intricate burrows that have a “kitchen”, “living room” and “bathroom”.have a “kitchen”, “living room” and “bathroom”.

Mountain Beavers prefer moist forests and Mountain Beavers prefer moist forests and thickets.thickets.

RangeRange Mountain Beaver can Mountain Beaver can

be found from British be found from British Columbia South to Columbia South to Central California. Central California.

Mountain Beaver are Mountain Beaver are primarily found West primarily found West of the Cascade of the Cascade Range.Range.

NutritionNutrition

The mountain beaver mostly eats smaller The mountain beaver mostly eats smaller shrub type plants, but can eat the shrub type plants, but can eat the branches of younger trees too.branches of younger trees too.

The mountain beaver The mountain beaver often makes a often makes a “haystack” by piling “haystack” by piling vegetation around vegetation around the entrance to the the entrance to the burrow.burrow.

BenefitsBenefits Create burrows that Create burrows that

mix soil and are used mix soil and are used by many other animals by many other animals including rabbits, including rabbits, coyotes, skunks, etc.coyotes, skunks, etc.

NegativesNegatives They eat . . . A lot.They eat . . . A lot. Cause damage to Cause damage to

vegetation in gardens vegetation in gardens and reforestation and reforestation projects.projects.

Burrows can cave in Burrows can cave in and create holes or and create holes or ditches.ditches.

Other Interesting Information:Other Interesting Information: The mountain beaver is The mountain beaver is

the oldest known living the oldest known living rodent on earth (about 40 rodent on earth (about 40 million years old). Some million years old). Some scientists consider them a scientists consider them a “living fossil”.“living fossil”.

Mountain Beavers have Mountain Beavers have primitive kidneys, so they primitive kidneys, so they need to drink about 20-need to drink about 20-30% of their body weight 30% of their body weight each day. (That would be each day. (That would be like a 100 pound kid like a 100 pound kid drinking almost 4 gallons drinking almost 4 gallons of water a day!!)of water a day!!)

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!