Muskoka Wildlife Centre





  
American Toad
Viber
Badger
Dozer
Sandy
Bald Eagle
Thorondor
Hal
Barn Owl
Barney (a.k.a. Moonface)
Silo
Beaver
Woodrow
Millie
Black Bear
Kootenay
Black Rat Snake
Kingston
Licorice
Blanding's Turtle
Oliver
Bobcat
Rufus
Box Turtle
Murtle
Bull Frog
Fergus
Cottontail Rabbit
Peter
Cougar
Kokanee
Eastern Fox Snake
Copper
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Olive
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
Snorkel
Fisher
Mike
Five-Lined Skink
Liz
Flying Squirrel
Pixie
Peanut
Garter Snake (Common)
Sir Hiss
Great Horned Owl
Dr. Hoo (not on display)
Green Frog
Kermit
Gargoyle
Grey Tree Frog
Twiggy
Groundhog/Woodchuck
Clover
Kestrel
Punk
Leopard Frog
Hoppy
Lynx
Yeti
Map Turtle (Northern)
Atlas
Marten
Conifer
Milk Snake
Beatrice
Moose
Chocolate
Lucky
Northern Bobwhite
Bob
Painted Turtle
Raphael
Willamina
Peregrine Falcon
Apollo
Porcupine
Quillber
Thistle
Raccoon
Dawn
Juniper
Latte
Raven
Edgar
Nevermore
Red Fox
Fenn
Renard
Red-tailed Hawk
Will Scarlet (not on display)
Saw-whet Owl
Luna
Snapping Turtle
Sam
Junior (not on display)
Spotted Salamander
Happy
Stinkpot Turtle
Lily (not on display)
Striped Skunk
Flower
Turkey Vulture
Barfalomew (not on display)
Wolf
Montana
Akayla
Wolverine
Hyde
Gulo
Wood Turtle
Oakley


Millie the Beaver



Share Millie the Beaver's Story
Born: Spring 2004
Sex: Female
 

Millie and her brother Woodrow were acquired after their parents were trapped for being nuisance animals when they mere weeks old.  Since they were hand-raised, they are unable to be returned to the wild. 

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Average Size: Average Weight:
94-114 cm (37-45 in) including tail 13-35 kg (28-77 lbs)
Average Lifespan: Range:
10-15 years in the wild, up to 24 years in captivity found throughout Ontario

Dining and Dwelling

Life and Death

Beavers mainly eat bark, aquatic plants, thistles, leaves, twigs, seeds and roots.  A lot of effort goes into the selection of a tree to eat. The farther it is from water, the greater risk of predation, so they try and stay close to the water.  A medium size tree will have a higher rate of return of energy and nutrients.  Beavers will also use smell to distinguish the preferred species of natural plant compounds in the bark. If all else fails, they will take small taste samples of bark.

The beaver is found in streams and lakes in both remote and settled areas.  Felling large trees with their chisel-like teeth, they cement them together with mud and sticks to build a dam.  The area behind the dam becomes flooded which produces a large marsh, rich in water plants and aquatic life. Within these newly formed ponds the beaver builds its home or lodge.  When winter arrives, beavers do not hibernate, they over winter in their lodge, only leaving to collect stored food.

Beavers mate for life.  Mating occurs during the winter months but not until the individuals have reached sexual maturity at two years of age.  Two to four young are born precocious in the lodge during the late spring.  They are able to swim within a few hours and are usually weaned at about 6 weeks old.  Some juveniles may be 2 years of age before dispersing.

In addition to fur trapping, the main predators of the beaver are: coyotes, grew wolves, red foxes, eagles, black bears, lynx, bobcats, fishers, minks, as well as domestic dogs.

That's Amazing

  • A beaver is able to cut down a 5 inch tree in less than 3 minutes
  • The largest beaver dam ever recorded was over 1.5 km long and more than 10 meters tall!
  • The front teeth of a beaver never stop growing.