CHAPTER TX. 
BREEDING AND FAmIty LIFE 
The family life of the beaver would appear to be quite a 
model one. With an exception to be noted below all ob- 
servers and writers seem to be agreed that the beaver is 
monogamous and mates for life. The young remain in the 
lodge or burrow until they are fully grown, when they 
leave the old home, but often set up a new one for them- 
selves in the same pond. This might be likened to a human 
family where the old folks remain in the homestead while 
the children build new homes nearby, and all unite in work- 
ing together for the common good. 
When we come to look into the matter not as much 
appears to be known of some of the breeding habits of the 
beaver as we might have a right to expect after all the years 
we have known the animal. The creature’s habits are in 
themselves obstacles to gaining information as to some 
things. Thus the rutting season does not seem to be 
definitely known. MacFarlane thought it was in January 
and February, but in those months over much of its range 
the beaver is living in ice-covered waters and not to be seen, 
much less studied. The same writer thought the period of 
gestation was about three months and the young were born 
in April and May. This last fact seems pretty well estab- 
lished. He states that the young are born blind and help- 
less, while Dugmore says the eyes are open at birth, basing 
his statement on what he had been told by trappers and 
others. 
The number in a family seems to be quite variable. Per- 
haps the usual number is about four. As few as one has 
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