Castor canadensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CASTORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Castor canadensis

Species Authority:

Kuhl, 1820

Common Name/s:

English

–

American Beaver

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G. & Cannings, S.)

Evaluator/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Chanson, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because it is very widespread, common in many parts of its range, it occurs in many protected areas and its populations are currently stable.

History:

2000	–	Lower Risk/least concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found throughout North America except the arctic tundra, peninsular Florida and the deserts of the southwestern United States. Its range extends into northern Mexico. In 1937 it was introduced in Finland, from where it naturally dispersed to Karelia and Leningrad Region (northwest Russia). It is also introduced in the Russian Far East, Kamchatka and Sakhalin Island (Russia).
Countries:	Native: Canada; Mexico (Tamaulipas); United States Introduced: Finland; Russian Federation
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Following overexploitation for the fur trade, protection and re-introduction programs have re-established the American beaver throughout its historical range. It is now abundant. The current population size in Russia is unknown, but the population in northwest Russia is stable.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits areas near lakes, ponds, and streams with access to suitable food and building resources. Beavers are known for their ability to modify an environment through the construction of dams, which often cause flooding of the surrounding areas (Jenkins and Busher, 1979).
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Overall there are no major threats to the species throughout its range. It is hunted and trapped for pelts. Many beavers are killed in areas where tree felling and dam building are in discordance with human development. It is highly sensitive to tularemia.

Major Threat(s):

Overall there are no major threats to the species throughout its range. It is hunted and trapped for pelts. Many beavers are killed in areas where tree felling and dam building are in discordance with human development. It is highly sensitive to tularemia.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Hunting and trapping of the American beaver is regulated at the national level. Introduced populations occur in some protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

Hunting and trapping of the American beaver is regulated at the national level. Introduced populations occur in some protected areas.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V., Hammerson, G. & Cannings, S. 2008. Castor canadensis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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