The Sierra Nevada mountain beaver is a chubby little rodent that digs tunnels and lives in the cool, wet parts of California’s mountain forests. Fun fact: it’s not even a real beaver! But it’s been around since the time of the dinosaurs
In foggy, moist forests with soft ground. These little guys are homebodies—they don’t move around much, so they really need their patch of forest to stay safe.
It digs burrows, eats leaves and roots, and stays hidden most of the time. It doesn’t swim or build dams—it just wants some peace, mud, and veggies.
Trees getting cut down
destroy its hiding spots.
Drier weather
from climate change messes up its habitat.
It can’t travel far,
so if its home is ruined, it’s got nowhere to go.
Mountain beavers are like nature’s gardeners—they dig up soil and help spread seeds, which helps forests grow. If they disappear, the forest can start to fall out of balance. Plus, they’ve survived for millions of years—we shouldn’t be the ones to wipe them out!
