Salisbury in Wicomico County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
Beavers are the largest rodents in North America. They are characterized by their dark brown fur, webbed hind feet, and a naked, scaly tail that is shaped like a paddle. Beavers gnaw down small trees, which they use to create tick-and-mud dams and lodges. When alarmed, they will slap their tail as they dive below the surface of the water. Beavers were nearly exterminated in much of their range due to unregulated harvesting for their valuable fur, but now are making a comeback thanks in part to effective wildlife management practices.
Distribution: Beavers are found in streams and lakes in the United States, Canada and northern Mexico.
Behavior: Beavers live in small family groups consisting of parents, yearlings and infants. Females usually give birth to two to four offspring in late spring or early summer after 128-day gestation period. Infants, called kits, are born furred with their eyes open. Beavers are primarily nocturnal, and feed on the bark and small branches of young trees. Along swift streams, they may burrow into the bank to create a den.
Food:
Wild - bark, twigs and other plant material
Zoo - chopped fruits & vegetables, commercial diet
Erected by Salisbury Zoo, City of Salisbury,
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 38° 21.624′ N, 75° 34.937′ W. Marker is in Salisbury, Maryland, in Wicomico County. Marker can be reached from South Park Drive, 0.2 miles Memorial Plaza, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 748 S Park Dr, Salisbury MD 21804, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Bison (within shouting distance of this marker); The Evolution of the "Best Little Zoo in North America" (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wicomico Treasures (about 500 feet away); American Alligator (about 500 feet away); Here We Mark the Price of Freedom (approx. 0.3 miles away); Non Native Plants (approx. ¾ mile away); Wetland Marsh (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wooded Wetland (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salisbury.
Regarding Beaver. This qualifies as a marker because it mentions how human activity has interceded in the success of the species for better and worse.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 15, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
