Funny Beavers: Dam Fun Facts

It's interesting to point that some of the photos are examples were of nutria, also called coypu, another large aquatic rodent, that is also cute, but not a beaver.

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is one of 2 extant (still in existence) beaver species. It is native to North America and introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe (primarily Finland and Karelia). In the United States and Canada, the species is often referred to simply as "beaver." There is also a distantly related rodent, Aplodontia rufa, it is often called the "mountain beaver".

An otter looks somewhat similar to a beaver. At first glance, there may not seem like much of a difference between otters and beavers. The otter is a carnivore, while the dam-building beaver is a rodent that prefers vegetarian eating. The otter is a relative of the weasel. The beaver is a relative of the rat.