Q: Where do beavers live?

Beavers live throughout Canada, primarily in the Boreal forest. Stretching from Alaska to Labrador, the Boreal forest is one of the largest intact wilderness areas left on the planet. Much of the northern boreal is spared from development and wild beavers thrive in habitats of waterways, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Q: How are beavers harvested?

Harvesting beavers is hard work and a well-respected skill in northern Canadian communities. Beavers are harvested during winter from October to April when their coats are at the height of thickness. The trapping seasons are monitored and regulated by government. The fur harvester uses certified humane traps on the Land, in waterways and under the ice. Beavers are quickly and carefully prepared to ensure a premium quality pelt.

Q: After the pelt is harvested, what happens to the rest of the beaver?

Reciprocity is a pillar of our Indigenous World view. According to the natural model of reciprocity, the gift of life necessitates both respect for that gift and a return. Indigenous peoples see an expression of this in the respectful return of parts of the animal to its habitat.

The beaver meat is most often brought back to the trapline and eaten by the other animals in the forest. When one returns the next day, nothing remains. My father used to say that beaver meat is like a vitamin pill for animals surviving in harsh environments.

The beaver castor is collected by the harvester and sold at fur auctions for use in perfumes and as food flavour enhancers. The oil glands are used in trapping lure. 

Beaver meat is consumed by humans for its nourishment. It has a similar taste to wild boar with rich, dark meat. When we were young, my mother prepared canned beaver meat for meals during the summer months. Additionally, beaver tails are roasted over open fires as a delicacy in many Indigenous cultures. It has a light flavour and fatty texture; tasty with just salt and pepper!

The meat is also sold to local dog mushers to feed their dogs. Many mushers favour beaver meat for its excellent nutritional value. This practice is more environmentally friendly than purchasing commercially mass-produced dog food.

Q: Are beavers farmed and are they considered an at-risk species?

Beavers are resilient, wild animals that cannot be farmed or domesticated. They produce litters every spring, which contributes to their abundance.

Beginning in the 1700's, the early fur trade in Canada saw the near extinction caused by over trapping of the Canadian beaver for the production of Europe's fashion-crazed felted beaver top hats. In the early 1900's, people woke up to what was happening and curbed the widespread devastation. The populations recovered quickly.

Today, conservation is paramount for fur bearers and their numbers are closely monitored. Beavers are thriving and are not an endangered or threatened species.

Q: What happens to beavers in urban and commercialized areas? 

Human development, exploration and expansion results in habitat destruction. Beavers and humans collide in urban and commercialized areas where, sadly, beavers are often eliminated as pests. 

Q: What are the threats to healthy beaver populations?

While beavers are resilient and have expansive habitats to thrive in North America. The climate crisis, environmental destruction, and pollutants threaten species on every corner of the earth.

It is our collective responsibility to protect the environment so all animals, including beavers, continue to thrive.