* Water: Beavers are semi-aquatic and need a constant source of water for swimming, building lodges, and accessing food.
* Trees: Beavers rely heavily on trees for food (bark) and building materials for their dams and lodges.
* Wetlands: Wetlands provide the ideal habitat for the trees and water beavers need, along with the soft, muddy banks suitable for dam construction.
* Slow-moving water: Beavers prefer slow-moving rivers, streams, and ponds, which make it easier to build dams and create the flooded areas they need.
Ideal habitat features:
* Mature forests: With a variety of deciduous trees, especially aspen, willow, and birch.
* Rivers, streams, or ponds: With gentle slopes and soft banks.
* Open areas near water: For feeding and basking.
They are NOT suited for:
* Dry or desert environments: Lack of water would make survival impossible.
* Areas with no trees: They need trees for food and building materials.
* Fast-moving rivers: Difficult to build dams and lodges in turbulent water.