missouri beaver

When: July 3, 1804

 

Where: Iatan, Platte County, Missouri; most abundantly mentioned in Three Forks, Montana.

 

Description: A very large, bulky rodent, with rounded head and small, rounded ears. Dark brown fur is fine and soft. Scaly tail large, black, horizontally flattened, and paddle-shaped. Length: 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m); tail: 11.8–17.5 in (30–44 cm). Weight: usually 44–60 lb (20–27 kg), but sometimes up to 86 lb (39 kg).

 

Habitat: Rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, and ponds.

 

Range: Most of Canada and U.S., except for most of Florida, much of Nevada, and southern California.

 

Note: Well adapted to its highly aquatic life, the beaver swims, using its webbed hind feet, at speeds up to 6 mph (10 km/h).