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The beaver, known for its distinctive flat tail and gnawing abilities, is one of the largest rodents in North America. With a lifespan of up to 20 years in the wild, these semi-aquatic mammals are known for their engineering skills and their ability to transform the environment around them.

Physical Characteristics

Beavers have a distinctive appearance, with dense brown fur covering their large, stocky bodies. They have a broad, flat tail that they use for balance and communication, as well as powerful, chisel-like incisors that can cut through trees with ease. Beavers can grow to be up to four feet long and can weigh up to 70 pounds, making them some of the largest rodents in the world.

Habitat and Distribution

Beavers are native to North America, but they can also be found in Europe and Asia. They are typically found near bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, where they build their homes, called lodges or dams. These structures are made from sticks, mud, and rocks, and can be quite large, with some beaver dams measuring up to 2,700 feet in length.

Ecological Importance

Beavers play an important role in their ecosystem, as they are known for their engineering skills and their ability to transform the environment around them. By building dams and lodges, they create wetland habitats that support a wide variety of plant and animal life. These habitats also help to filter water, reducing sediment and pollutants and improving water quality.

In addition to creating wetland habitats, beavers are also known for their ability to modify the landscape by cutting down trees and shrubs. While this behavior can sometimes be detrimental to human interests, such as flooding roads or damaging crops, it is an important part of the natural ecosystem. Beaver activity can create new habitats for other animals, such as birds and fish, and can also help to prevent erosion and promote the growth of new vegetation.

Conservation Status

While beavers were once hunted extensively for their fur and meat, they are now protected in most areas of North America. In some cases, beavers have even been reintroduced to areas where they were once extinct, in order to help restore wetland habitats and promote ecological diversity.

Despite their protected status, beavers still face threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. As such, it is important to continue to monitor beaver populations and take steps to protect their habitats and promote their conservation.

In the sentence below, what does the term "semi-aquatic" mean?

With a lifespan of up to 20 years in the wild, these semi-aquatic mammals are known for their engineering skills and their ability to transform the environment around them.
1. They only live in the water
2. They only live on land
3. They live in water and on land
4. They live in the ocean
Which is NOT a function of the beaver's tail?
1. Communication
2. Balance
3. Warmth
Which of the following describes the EFFECT of the beaver's building skills? .Select two
1. Destroys woodland habitats for forest-dwelling animals
2. Provides wetland habitat for animals and plants
3. Improves water quality
4. Provides hiding places for predators
Beaver's play a(n) _________________ role in the maintenance and health of ecosystems.
1. uncertain
2. limited
3. modest
4. essential
Which is NOT true about the beaver?
1. Beavers were once hunted for their fur
2. Beavers are considered invasive species
3. Beavers can weigh up to 70 pounds
4. Beavers are protected in most areas of North America.
In the sentence below, which is the closest definition to "incisors"?

They have a broad, flat tail that they use for balance and communication, as well as powerful, chisel-like incisors that can cut through trees with ease.
1. claws
2. teeth
3. tusks
4. fur
Where would I be least likely to encounter a beaver?
1. North America
2. Europe
3. Asia
4. Africa