Adorable Beaver Plush Toy – Soft and Lifelike Stuffed Animal

Beavers are fascinating creatures and some of nature’s most skilled architects! Found across the Northern Hemisphere, these semi-aquatic rodents belong to the genus Castor and include two species: the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). They are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras, and can weigh up to a hefty 50 kg (110 lbs)!

Known for their industrious nature, beavers build intricate dams and lodges using tree branches, mud, and rocks. These constructions create wetlands that benefit many other species, earning them the title of a "keystone species." Fun fact: beavers are triggered to build or repair dams when they hear the sound of running water, which they instinctively want to control.

Beavers are equipped with strong orange teeth covered in iron-rich enamel, perfect for chewing down trees. Their iconic flat tails serve multiple purposes: they act as rudders while swimming, store fat for winter, and help them balance while standing upright to gnaw on trees. While their teeth never stop growing, they naturally wear down as the beavers munch wood.

Surprisingly, beavers are herbivores, feeding on tree bark, aquatic plants, and grasses. Their ability to engineer habitats has even been linked to climate benefits, such as creating water reservoirs during droughts and storing carbon in their wetlands.

Historically, beavers were hunted for their fur and castoreum, a secretion once used in perfumes and medicines. Today, they are celebrated for their ecological importance and industrious spirit—so much so that the beaver is the national symbol of Canada!