How to tell a Beaver in Canada from a Bear?
- hannahJnc
- Aug 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Sounds weird, right? I get it, I was this close to thinking a beaver was actually a bear. If you're wondering if I've completely lost it, don’t worry, I thought the same thing at first. Let me take you through my version of events, though, and I'll defend myself here:
On a nice sunday afternoon, we jumped in the car in Calgary to catch the sunset on Prairie Mountain (which is a beautiful 8.4 km round trip with 711m of elevation) 8.4km. By the time we got back to the trailhead, it was dusk, and on the opposite side were the Beaver Flats. We weren’t ready to head back to the city just yet, so we thought, "Hey, let’s take a little detour to the ponds!" So we decided to do the 1 km loop through the Beaver Flats wetland, passing ponds, streams, and dams along the way.
We were strolling peacefully by the water, and the last rays of the sun were reflecting off the calm surface. A few beaver dams were spaced out, giving us a hint that beavers definitely lived here.
And then, out of nowhere, we spotted movement on the trail, about ten meters ahead. A huge brown animal, with a mouth full of branches, was slowly making its way toward the water. For the first few seconds, our brains just went: "OMG, is that a BEAR?!"
OMG, A Bear right in front of me!
I've never been so close to a bear on a trail before. My heart was racing, my knees felt weak. Full-on fight-or-flight mode kicked in. And then, when the "bear" gracefully slid into the water with a flat, long tail, it hit us. Wait—it wasn't a bear, it was a beaver!
The beaver's dry fur had, in the fading light, briefly mimicked the texture of bear fur. We gave ourselves a bit of an adrenaline rush for nothing. But once we realized which animal we were actually facing, it was just plain fascinating.
OMG, A Bear Right in Front of Me!
I've never been so close to a bear on a trail before. My heart was racing, my knees felt weak. Full-on fight-or-flight mode kicked in. And then, when the "bear" gracefully slid into the water with a flat, long tail, it hit us. Wait—it wasn't a bear, it was a beaver!
The beaver's dry fur had, in the fading light, briefly mimicked the texture of bear fur. We gave ourselves a bit of an adrenaline rush for nothing. But once we realized which animal we were actually facing, it was just plain fascinating.
Beavers are master builders. They shape entire landscapes with their dams and have an impact on the ecosystem like no other animal. And, surprisingly, the signs we saw everywhere weren't leftovers from the past—they were fresh.
Beavers are ridiculously efficient. With their sharp teeth, they can fell small trees in minutes, carry branches like pros, and dive underwater in a flash. And that's exactly what we saw. As we took a few more steps, we heard a loud splash from across the water, like someone had thrown a massive rock in.
We froze, moving as quietly as we could, and after a few minutes, another beaver surfaced! It glided smoothly through the water, dipped under for a moment, then reappeared elsewhere. We held our breath, realizing we were the only humans around, and we just stood there watching these amazing animals for a while before heading back to Calgary, carrying those magical memories with us. 🥰
Beaver Facts in Canada 🦫
National Animal of Canada: The beaver is the official national animal of Canada and is featured on the Canadian five-cent coin.
Second-Largest Rodent in the world: Beavers are the second-largest rodents on the planet (and if you're like me and wonder who the largest are: it's capybaras).
Lifespan: In the wild, beavers typically live around 10 to 12 years.
When threatened: Beavers can dive underwater in the blink of an eye and hold their breath for up to 15 minutes.
Love Life: Beavers are monogamous and stay together for life.🥰 After a pregnancy lasting about 3.5 months, they give birth to 2-6 young in the spring. The babies stay with their parents for up to two years, even helping take care of younger siblings.
Size and Weight: Canadian beavers grow to a total length of 90 to 120 centimeters and typically weigh between 17 and 32 kilograms. In rare cases, they can reach up to 45 kilograms (but honestly, the one we saw definitely looked like it was pushing 90kg 😅).
Beaver Tail (AKA Paddle): The beaver's tail can grow up to 30 cm long and 15 cm wide, covered in scales, and is a true multitool:
Warning Signal: When danger is near, a beaver slaps its tail on the water to make a loud "SLAP!" sound to alert others of the threat.
Steering Aid: The tail acts as a rudder when swimming.
Balance: When cutting down trees, beavers use their tail for support to stay steady.
Beaver Dams: Beaver dams don’t harm the environment; instead, they create healthier ecosystems by storing water and providing habitats for various animals (plus, they help prevent flooding).
Diet: Beavers are vegetarians, feeding on tree bark, branches, leaves, aquatic plants, grasses, herbs, and lilies.
Predators: Though large and strong, beavers have predators like wolves, coyotes, bears, lynxes, and birds of prey (especially for the young). In the past, humans were the beavers' biggest threat, hunting them for their fur.
When and Where to Best Spot Beavers?
Best time of day: Beavers are most active during dawn and dusk, so it’s worth getting up early or heading out just before sunset to catch a glimpse of them.
Best time of year: Spring to fall (May to October) is the ideal time, as that’s when they’re busiest building and transporting branches.
Best spots: Wetlands with noticeable dams or chewed tree trunks are a dead giveaway that beavers are in the area.
That little detour to Beaver Flats, just an hour from Calgary, turned out to be the highlight of the day (and that’s after we’d already found a fantastic sunset picnic spot). Nature really does surprise you most when you least expect it. Sometimes, Canada shows off its wild side, even if it’s just a beaver that takes your breath away (and sends you into a mild panic for a sec).
If you’re hoping to see beavers in the wild in Canada, I highly recommend the 👉 Beaver Flats.👈 You’re likely to have the place all to yourself at dusk. But, if you decide to go on this adventure, don’t forget your bear spray and insect repellent. Where beavers, moose, and wolves roam, bears aren’t too far behind. 😊
Have you ever spotted a beaver in the wild? Drop a comment below! 😊
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