Beaver

Beaver

Castor canadensis

Size: 3-4 ft ( total length )

Habitat: in and around water

Notes:
Famous for their dam-building habits, beavers were once a major ecological force in North America, reshaping a very large proportion of the land to suit themselves. Unfortunately for them, they also became a major economic force - much of the early exploration of the continent was done by fur trappers. Today, beavers are rare, and virtually non-existent in New Jersey, although there are a few colonies.

beaver
Beaver lodge
Beaver lodge

Iron and steel artifacts are much less sought-after than brass and other metals, because they readily corrode in saltwater, and are difficult to clean and preserve after recovery. Exposure to air tremendously accelerates the corrosive process, and without proper conservation, a nice iron or steel artifact will become an ugly lump of rust within weeks of removal from the water.