Beavers

Beavers are a species that are drivers of ecosystem conditions, by their natural habit of dam building that can result in changes in habitat through the flooding of considerable areas.

In many areas of Fundy, the lay of the land, with steep gradients along many watercourses and valleys, is not favourable to beaver habitat. However, in more “flat” areas of the park, beavers have been, and continue to be, a species that has significantly shaped the habitat they live in. By flooding areas of considerable size, they have caused changes in the size of ponds and in surface water levels in treed areas.

Did you know?

We often think of beavers as residents of calm waters such as ponds or slow‑moving streams. However, beavers are highly adaptable and able to take advantage of a wide range of habitats. In Fundy, for example, we have encountered beavers living in rivers with much steeper gradients than what is commonly expected for this species.