Leave it to the American beaver to become Canada's national animal
		by BUDDY AMATO
		Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents that live in North America and Europe. Beavers are best known for their natural trait of building dams in rivers and streams, and building lodges in the eventual artificial pond. They are the second largest rodents, after the capybara. Beavers continue to grow throughout life. Adult beavers weigh over 55 pounds, and are not uncommon. Females are as large as, or larger than males of the same age, which is uncommon in most species. According to Sports Guide magazine, in the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church declared that the beaver is a fish because of its swimming skills and the scales that cover its tail. Therefore the general prohibition on the consumption of meat on Fridays during Lent did not apply to beaver meat. The have a soft, smooth and dense under-fur which traps air and insulates their skin from cold water or air. This smooth fur made them valuable to fur traders, who almost made them go extinct. Beavers are sociable animals, living in streams, where, so as to render the water of sufficient depth, they build dams of mud and of the stems and boughs of trees felled by their powerful incisor teeth. Then they make lodges with roomy chambers, with the entrance beneath the water. The beavers carry the mud and stones with their fore-paws and the timber between their teeth. The mud is plastered down by the fore-feet, and not, as often supposed by the tail, which they use as a rudder. They cover their houses late every autumn with fresh mud, which, freezing when the frost sets in, becomes almost as hard as stone, so that neither wolves nor wolverines can disturb their repose. The favorite food of the American beaver is the water-lily (Nuphar luteum), which bears a resemblance to a cabbage stalk, and grows at the bottom of lakes and rivers. Beavers also gnaw the bark of birch, poplar and willow trees; but during the summer a more varied herbage, with the addition of berries, is consumed. Did you know.... That the Roman Catholic Church classified all beaver as fish in the 16th century, and they are still classified this way? That the American beaver and the European beaver are genetically different and cannot make hybrids? That American beavers are nocturnal and only work and eat at night? That the American beaver is Canada's national animal? Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555. Return to top More Columns Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555