176 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



which, according to Morgan, takes place both on the shore where 

 they bask about or in the water where a number of them may swim 

 about, ducking each other. 



In the summer months many beavers roam about more or less, 

 frequently to considerable distances from their home locality. 

 Whether this is indulged in by all members in a colony or only 

 by the males, unmated individuals and young of the preceding year, 

 is not certain. It does not seem probable that females with young 

 of the season would make any extended excursions away from the 

 home lodge. At any rate, in Minnesota, Colorado and in the Adi- 

 rondacks I have found lodges occupied by adults all through the 

 summer, and in some cases there were young of the season also. 



Breeding Habits 



So far as known the beaver pairs for life. According to Seton 

 ('09, Vol. 1, p. 471) the animals mate in February and the young 

 are born in May, the period of gestation being accordingly about 

 three months, or fourteen weeks according to Dugmore. While 

 Seton's statements refer evidently to the beaver of Manitoba, the 

 mating season no doubt is about the same for the Adirondacks. 

 Persons whom I questioned in the Adirondacks could give me no 

 positive information on these points but seemed to believe that the 

 young were born during May or early June. 



The young are born in the lodge or in a bank burrow and vary 

 from two to six in number, or possibly there may be as many as 

 seven or eight in some cases, the average being probably four. The 

 young at birth are said to be fully furred, with their eves open, 

 and are able to leave the lodge with the mother when three weeks 

 or a month old. At this age they are also said to begin eating solid 

 food. They remain with the parents for a year or longer and are 

 not sexually mature until two vears old. In the autumn following 

 their hirth, that is, when they are three to four months old, they 

 will take part in building dams and lodges. Young beavers separated 

 from their parents at an early age will build lodges and dams 

 without first having " learned " to do such things from their parents. 

 the building habit being instinctive. 



The mother beaver is said by some naturalists to exhibit con- 

 siderable concern for her young when they are in danger and will 

 come to their defense. It is not definitely known whether the male 

 takes any active part in the care of the young. Evidence seems 



