Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/Beaver/archive3

Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with two species, the North American and Eurasian beavers. Both have stout bodies, large heads, chisel-like incisors, hand-like front feet, webbed back feet and flat, scaly tails. The Eurasian beaver has a longer skull, lighter color and narrower tail. Beavers are found in freshwater habitats, and are herbivorous, consuming tree bark and other plants. They build dams and lodges using tree branches, vegetation, rocks and mud. Adults live in monogamous pairs. Older young may help their parents with repairs and raising new-borns. Beavers are territorial and scent-mark with castoreum, a urine-based substance used by humans in medicine, perfume and flavoring. Historically, beavers were hunted for their fur, meat and castoreum and overhunting nearly exterminated both species. With protection, their populations have rebounded, and both are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. In human culture, the beaver symbolizes industriousness and is the national animal of Canada.