Beaver Diet

Beavers are herbivores, and their diet primarily consists of tree bark, leaves, twigs, and aquatic plants. In particular, beavers favor the bark of trees such as aspen, willow, birch, and poplar. They gnaw on tree trunks with their strong, ever-growing incisors to access the nutrient-rich cambium layer just beneath the bark. This soft inner layer provides essential nutrients, especially in the colder months when other food sources are scarce. Beavers also stockpile branches and logs underwater near their lodges to create a winter food cache, ensuring a steady food supply even when the pond is frozen.

In the warmer months, beavers expand their diet to include a wider variety of vegetation. They consume grasses, ferns, and aquatic plants such as water lilies and cattails. This diverse diet helps meet their nutritional needs and supports the energy required for building dams and lodges. Because of their diet, beavers play a key role in forest management, helping to thin out trees and promote new growth. If you are in an area where beavers are active, it’s essential to protect valuable trees by using barriers or tree guards to prevent beaver damage. This coexistence can maintain the ecological benefits that beavers provide while minimizing conflicts with human activities.