Photo: Cheryl Reynolds June 18, 2009
Beaver colonies are discussed as Matriarchies, meaning that the oldest beaver has the central role in colony stability and management. If the female is lost the colony will relocate and start over somewhere else. Female dispersers go farther afield than males for just this reason; they understand a colony will grow around them and they want to make sure they have adequate food supplies. Certainly we observe mom with the most important work in our colony, bearing and nursing the kits and mudding the lodge for comfort and safety.
I remember back when Mary Tappel was first advising the city and the Gazette (now two editor’s ago) reported her saying female beavers produce kits “for 50 years”. I called giggling to point out the typo, and RIchard assured me that it was no typo, but that this was what he had been told by Ms. Tappel directly. Curious about my reaction, he called her back to verify, and with some hemming and hawing she was able to shorten the number to thirty-five.
!!!!!!
For the record, beavers are sexually mature enough to breed sometime after their second year, and their entire life span is about 15 years. I was able to find record of a beaver in captivity living for 19 years, but that was the Rip Van Winkle of beavers. In ideal circumstances, a female may produce kits for twelve (12) consecutive years.
Don’t feel bad, City of Martinez. Your expert was only 76% inaccurate. The other 24% was right on the money.
