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North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

It is the largest rodent, native to North America and introduced to Finland and the Southern tip of South America. Although common, rarely seen around Montreal due to its preference being more active at night.

Best Locations and Seasons for Sightings

I have been able to spot Beavers during summer and autumn in Parc des Rapides both at land and swimming. In winter, Beavers spent most of the time in the burrow sleeping, rarely leaving the burrow to search for food underwater.

Identification and Similar Species

When at land, the size and shape of its tail is a clear characteristic to identify this species. Different to the Groundhog (Marmota monax) which has a bushy tail, the tail of the Beaver is wide, flat and without hair . Swimming in water, Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) and American Mink (Neovison vison) may be wrongly identified as Beaver, especially on distance. Different to Muskrat, the tail movement of a Beaver is a slow up and down and compared to the American Mink, the body of a Beaver is chubby while the American Mink's body is thin and long.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2025-10-04