9707 Craun Road, Dewitt, Michigan 48820, United States
BEAVER
The animal that was the financial lifeblood of Michigan from the time of the French voyageurs until the territory's acceptance into the union... The busy beaver!
Even methods of discouragement arent much of a help. The animal must be relocated to a safe area where they can live without damaging people's property.
Disease:
Tularemia - A bacterial disease associated with various animal species especially beavers, rabbits, and rodents. Tularemia occurs year-round throughout the United States, two seasonal peaks, the first in May and another in October. People can contract tularemia by handling infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or breathing in F. tularensis. Symptoms could include sudden fever/chills, headaches, muscle aches, cough, progressive weakness, and pneumonia. If treated quickly with the appropriate antibiotics, this potentially fatal disease is curable. Rubber gloves should be worn when handling beavers or working where they live. Also, avoid drinking untreated water.
Giardiasis - This disease, found in beavers and other animals is a diarrheal illness caused by a one-celled, microscopic parasite that lives in the intestine of people and animals. It has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease (drinking and recreational) in humans in the United States. The symptoms associated with giardiasis range from none (in light infections) to severe, chronic diarrhea. Giardia may be found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated. To protect yourself, practice good hygiene and avoid drinking or eating anything that may be contaminated. Boiling or filtering water removes the organisms that cause this disease.
Human Contact:
Humans can sustain a nasty bite and some scratches from beavers, but beavers will generally avoid people. Do not corner a beaver, do not try to feed a beaver. These teeth are NO JOKE!
Additional Information
Biology/ Animal Information:
Latin name: Castor canadensis
Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae
The beaver is bulky (typically 40-50 pounds) with light and dark patches of fur, a large, paddle-shaped tail, and small dark eyes. The front feet are small with long, sharp, curved toe-nails while the hind feet are large and webbed. Beavers live in streams, rivers, marshes, and lakes. Every area in the state that has suitable food sources located near permanent water
is potential beaver habitat. Michigan was first settled as a fur trading post. Detroit was the world's fur collector before furs became unfashionable, but beaver was the fur of choice.
