Beavers live primarily in freshwater habitats including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, and wetlands. They are semiaquatic rodents that depend on water for swimming, refuge from predators, and building their homes. Beavers build dams across shallow rivers and streams to create ponds, which serve as their habitat. They also construct lodges either in ponds or on riverbanks, which provide shelter and protection with underwater entrances. Beavers prefer areas with surrounding wetland plants, trees, and woodlands, often selecting flat landscapes near water with diverse vegetation. They can be found across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia in forested regions near freshwater sources.
