Hey sworddemon,

Was hoping someone else would answer this question but it appears you're stuck with me.

I think beaver are a grand animal. Just think about it: They are intelligent enough to know where to build a dam to create a water level that will sustain them throughout the year; smart enough to know that their surrounding area holds enough of the green stuff to sustain them and smart enough to know when it's time to move on; smart enough to build a lodge in which to live, stay warm and raise young - who told them they would need a vent hole on top of the lodge so they would be able to breath?; smart enough to know just how much food they are going to need while they are frozen under the ice during winter and how to secure it to the floor of the lake, river or pond they live in; smart enough to know when to start preparing for winter; and big, strong and ferocious enough to protect themselves from the few predators who actually could kill one of them (I doubt a coyote would be much of a match for a 40 to 100lb adult beaver with teeth that can chomp off a tree as big around as your wrist in two bites).

This is just a few of their amazing features. Did you know that the skin of a beaver never gets wet? or that they have a membrane that closes over their eyes while they are under water, yet they can still see? Not well because they actually have poor eyesight, but they can still manage to find their way home even in the darkest of waters. They can also close their nose and ears, as well as gnaw wood under water without swallowing any water and can stay under for as long as 15 minutes?

The problem with beaver is that they have to be controlled. They are very destructive and continuously reproduce at an alarming rate. If not controlled they also cause problems with disease, some of which are transmitable to humans. Many farmers hate them and shoot them on sight. I have several farmers who have problems with flooding, plugged culverts and so on. One guy I trap for lost a calve last spring that broke through the ice near a lodge. His motto is: A good beaver is a dead one!

As far as beaver pelts go, most now are sheared. Deep in their fur is a real fine hair much like down. It's incredibly soft and can be dyed different colours. Personally I've sold all my pelts but have entertained the thought of home-tanning and will do so in the near future. Not only would I like a beaver pelt hat, but a pair of mitts would go a long ways in keeping my hands warm on the quad or skidoo. Purchasing these items is very expensive. A pair of sheared beaver mitts, sold through the Alberta Trappers Association store, goes for $85.00.

Hope this answers your questions,
Take care,
Rob