Adirondack Beaver 173 



That the beaver be taken only by trapping and without damage 

 to or destruction of dams or lodges. 



That all trappers be licensed and that permits to take beaver 

 be issued only to persons who are bona fide residents of the region. 

 A reasonable fee should be charged for the license. 



The Conservation Commission should retain power to close the 

 season on beaver whenever in its judgment the welfare of the 

 species may require it. 



PART II. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BEAVER 



Introduction 



In dealing with the beaver problem a general knowledge of their 

 natural history is essential not only for a proper appreciation of 

 their harmful and beneficial influences, but as well for an intelligent 

 interest by those visitors to the Adirondacks who go there for the 

 pleasure of living and tramping in the wild forests. The following 

 account has been prepared to meet this need. 



General Remarks on Habits 



While the beaver is essentially aquatic it must come ashore for 

 such necessities of life as food and rest. Its short legs and heavy 

 body are ill adapted to ease of travel on land, its gait being slow 

 and clumsy and more in the nature of a shuffle than a walk; its 

 broad tail drags on the ground. Although it lacks neither weight 

 nor strength its only defensive weapons against an adversary on 

 land are its chisel-like incisors and it is handicapped in the use of 

 them in a fight by a well-nigh imperceptible neck and a limited gape. 

 Nevertheless it is quite probable that if hard pressed an adult beaver 

 would be no mean antagonist, for its powerful teeth would crash 

 through both flesh and bone. Mills states ('13, p. 35) that on two 

 occasions he has known beaver to kill a bobcat, but the particulars 

 are not given. 



The beaver therefore is naturally ill at ease on land and does 

 not veture any further than necessary from water. When fright- 

 ened its first and overpowering impulse is to get to its protecting 

 element. 



The beaver is usually considered as nocturnal and this is gen- 

 erally true in that most of its major activities are carried on at 

 night. In remote, undisturbed places however, it may often be seen 

 quietly moving about or feeding at almost any hour of the day. 



