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American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Silhouette: PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyCastoridae (Beavers)
- GenusCastor (Beavers)
- SpeciesCastor canadensis (American Beaver)
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
13 Verified sightings at Shenandoah National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,175 In all 25 parks
January Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted
About the American Beaver
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is one of two extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). It is native to North America and has been introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe (primarily Finland and Karelia). The North American beaver is one of the national symbols of Canada and the official state mammal of Oregon and New York. North American beavers are widespread across the continental United States, Canada, southern Alaska, and some parts of northern Mexico.
In Canada and the United States, the North American beaver is often referred to simply as "beaver", although this can cause some confusion because another distantly related rodent, Aplodontia rufa, is often called the "mountain beaver". Other vernacular names, including American beaver and Canadian beaver, distinguish this species from the other extant beaver species, Castor fiber, which is native to Eurasia.
The first fossil records of beavers are 10 to 12 million years old in Germany, and they are thought to have migrated to North America across the Bering land bridge. During the mid to late Pleistocene epoch, giant beavers weighing up to 200 pounds... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording0:03
United States · 2018
© Thomas Koffel · iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0
Recording1:50
United States · 2022
© Betty Bastai · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:05
United States · 2024
© Nate Marchessault · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of American Beaver in Shenandoah National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Calgary | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Edmonton | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Vancouver | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Portland | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Sacramento | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Denver | 🇺🇸 United States |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Shenandoah National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing an American Beaver in Shenandoah National Park?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Beaver sighting in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 13th most-seen of the 17 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see an American Beaver in Shenandoah National Park?
January
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report an American Beaver in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–March, May, July and November, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see an American Beaver?
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Beaver sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Is Shenandoah National Park the best place to see an American Beaver?
20th of 25
Of the 25 parks where we can rate American Beaver sightings, Shenandoah National Park ranks 20th at about 10%. The best odds are in Elk Island National Park (Canada, about 70%), Isle Royale National Park (United States, about 50%) and Point Pelee National Park (Canada, about 40%). All parks ranked.
Which relatives of the American Beaver live in Shenandoah National Park?
Same order: Rodentia
The closest relatives of the American Beaver that you can see in Shenandoah National Park (order Rodentia, Rodents) are Eastern Chipmunk (about 30%), Eastern Gray Squirrel (about 30%) and Woodchuck (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the American Beaver sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the American Beaver is recorded against all the mammals logged in Shenandoah National Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
