Beavers are much larger than people generally think. Think small labrador! Our adult beavers weigh between 50-70 lbs. Our yearlings about 30-40 lbs. By the time we first see the kits they are usually around 5-10 lbs. If you see something small in the water (especially in the daytime) it is most likely a muskrat! In areas where the water freezes beavers are usually forced to fast part of the year and burn off some of their fat reserves. Those beavers are often smaller in size, but generally beavers are bigger than you’d expect. They have big jobs! Moving earth, moving trees, and shaping dams!