The beaver was the reason for a lot of the early settlements in Missouri. With our two major rivers, as well as a network of smaller ones, the beaver population was really large. And fur traders wanted to capitalize on that population. In addition to the fur, moreover, beaver meat and oil were relished by many Europeans. So heavy was the fur trapping and trade business, that by 1900 the beaver population in Missouri reached an all-time low. Since then, however, these critters have had time to replenish themselves, with the aid of hunting/trapping restrictions, and today their dams and lodges can be seen along rivers, streams, small lakes and marshes. There are now enough beaver that Missouri can have an annual harvest.
It is unusual to see beaver during the day, during spring and summer floating and camping. In the fall, however, they are busy gathering food for the winter, to store in their dens or lodges, so are often out in the daylight hours. They don’t build as many dams in Missouri as they do in other places, because of our faster moving streams and rivers. Instead, they will build a den or lodge on a high bank, with an entry that is usually below water.
Beavers mate for life, and usually have annual litters of 3-4 kits. But, since the young remain in the colony for up to two years, it is common for a den or lodge to house up to 10 at a time. That’s a lot of mouths to feed, so food gathering is a huge part of beaver lifestyles. They are herbivores, and eat bark, new, softer twigs and woody plants. Other favorites include corn, watercress, and pond lilies, during spring, summer and early fall.
Though beavers are still harvested for their furs, and some hunters still enjoy the meat, the value of beavers to Missouri goes beyond this. It is difficult to know how much impact they have had on our ecosystems, but their damming has had long-term consequences in the creation of ponds, and in creating fertile valleys by causing silt to settle. The fertile valleys obviously impact farming, and there are many other plants and animals who thrive due to the beavers’ work.
Beavers do pose a menace to famers, when their “construction” work causes fields to flood and then have been known to chew up boat docks. In these cases, special permits are given to trap and relocate or to kill them.
