Beaver (Castor canadensis)

摘要

The beaver, appropriately designated New York's state mammal, has played an important role in shaping the state's natural environment as well as its history. In the 1600s, Europeans exploring this region found the beaver plentiful. Most bodies of water, large or small, supported populations of beavers. Beaver trapping proved to be a good way of making a living, with exports of beaver pelts from New York to Europe reaching nearly 80,000 annually in the late 1600s. By the late 1800s, however, the beaver was nearly extirpated from the state due to overexploitation and deforestation. A decline in demand for beaver pelts, combined with protective legislation, reintroduction efforts, and recovery of suitable habitat, led to a rebound of beaver populationsin the 1900s. Today, beavers are abundant throughout the state, recently returningeven to the waters of New York City and Long Island after 200 years of absence.