FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Castor canadensis | Beaver 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Information on the direct fire effects on beavers was not found in the
literature; however, they can probably easily escape fire.  Since lodges
are typically built over water, they are probably at little risk of
being destroyed by fire.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Fire occurring in riparian areas often benefits beaver populations [16].
Beavers are adapted to the early stages of forest succession.  Quaking
aspen, willows, alders, and red-osier dogwood, prime beaver food trees,
all sprout vigorously after fire.  As succession progresses, these trees
become too large for beavers to use or are replaced by climax trees
[34].  Recurring fires within parts of boreal forests have allowed aspen
and willow to replace coniferous forests.  This change favors beaver
populations, since both species are important food sources.  Fire may
also help create more open bodies of water [16].


FIRE USE : 
Fire can be used to maintain beaver habitat in a subclimax state, thus
ensuring adequate food supply for beavers [16,26,34].  High beaver
populations in many areas are the direct result of the extensive
clearcutting and forest fires which were characteristic of the northern
forests until recent years [25,34].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Castor canadensis | Beaver