Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia Rufa)
Skylar Horne
Characteristics
The Mountain Beaver is a rodent that lives on the west coast of the United States. Average adults weigh 2.3 pounds and range from 1.8 to 3.5 pounds. Average overall length is 13.5 inches, including a rudimentary tail about 1 inch long. The body is stout and compact. The head is relatively large and wide and blends into a large neck with no depression where it joins the shoulders. The eyes and ears are relatively small and the cheeks have long silver “whiskers.” Mountain Beaver's habitats are located in lakes, ponds, river, streams, forests, and woodlands.
Recovery, Value
Mountain Beavers are rodents, AND they cannot swim. Their main source of shelter/safety is by digging burrows that can sometimes stretch two acres. They feed on plants, and trees, so they visit commercial farms and cause a lot of destruction, so their human impact or 'reward' to humans is negative. The Mountain Beaver is being exterminated by farmers, etc. because of the damage they are causing. Not only do Mountain Beavers have a lot of predators, they also have low lifespan and reproductive amounts.
Bibliography
"Point Arena Mountain Beaver Species Profile" n.p n.d
"Support the Aplodontia Rufa (Mountain Beaver, Point Arena Mountain)"
"Mountain Beaver Aplodontia Rufa" EMature : Field Guides : Species Detail