BEAVER FARMING 



Vernon Bailey 

 Biological Sitrz'cy, U. S. Dcpartnioit of Agriculture 



A CAPTIVE BEAVER 



Figure 14. This old gentleman was caught in a pitfall for study. He was quite gentle 

 and easy to handle from the first. Beaver farming is an industry still in the experimental 

 stage, but offering great possibilities. Land not suited for any other purpose can be used, 

 and deforested areas could be, made to produce valuable crops of -beaver fur while being 

 reforested. Photograph from U. S. Biological Survey. 



ANEW line of fur farming prom- 

 ises an important addition to our 

 rapidly diminishing supply of 

 the warmest clothing known. Beaver 

 Habits, Beaver Control, and Possibili- 

 ties in Beaver Fanning is the title of a 

 bulletin just published by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, in which it is 

 shown that while the actual raising of 

 beavers on a business basis is still in 

 the experimental stage, enough has been 

 done to show that there are no insur- 

 mountable obstacles to be overcome. 

 Beavers are easily tamed, and become 

 very gentle and affectionate pets ; they 

 breed in captivity, are contented as 

 long as there is a satisfactory food 



supply, and are easily fenced and kept 

 within bounds. Their favorite food 

 consists of the bark of small aspens, 

 cottonwoods, willows, pin cherries, and 

 other bushes and trees of little or no 

 value for timber purposes, and they 

 thrive and produce the best fur in 

 regions too cold and rough for success- 

 ful agriculture. 



Beavers begin to breed when only a 

 year old, and when two years old are 

 practically fully developed. Four is the 

 usual number of young in a litter, but 

 there are records of six and a few of 

 eight. While reproduction is less rapid 

 than in most rodents, the beavers have 

 few enemies except man and are 



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