Comparative characterization of the building activity of Canadian and European beavers in northern European Russia

The building activity of Canadian and European beavers has been analyzed in the north of European Russia (southern Karelia). The results show that, under similar orographic, edaphic, and hydrological conditions, both species build their lodges and dams with equal frequencies. It is concluded that the building activity of beavers is a response of these animals to specific features of their environment, rather than a species-specific manifestation of the building instinct.