CA-494385 The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The beaver is as iconic to Canada as the kangaroo is to Australia.  But unlike the kangaroo, the beaver actually contributed to the development of Canada. In the period around 1600, the beaver trade built Canada’s first cities. Trapping and trading with Europeans meant international business and demand for fur-topped beaver hats and beaver pelts was high. The word “beaver” defined the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The beaver (genus Castor) is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. The North American beaver  is Castor canadensis. Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges (homes). They are the second-largest rodent in the world. Their colonies create one or more dams to provide still, deep water to protect against predators, and to float food and building material. The North American beaver population was once more than 60 million, but as of 1988 was 6–12 million. This population decline is the result of extensive hunting for fur, for glands used as medicine and perfume, and because the beavers' harvesting of trees and flooding of waterways may interfere with other land uses.

This Canadian postcard shows a beaver hard at work getting the material necessary to build a dam.  This postcard came from Sarah (20 January 2015) Postcrossing.