Comparison of Activity Patterns for American Beavers, Gray Wolves, and Muskrats

• Main Author: Lorenz, Margaret L
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: NMU Commons 2021
• Subjects: Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://commons.nmu.edu/celebration_student_scholarship/28; https://commons.nmu.edu/context/celebration_student_scholarship/article/1014/type/native/viewcontent

American beavers (Castor canadensis) share the same niche as muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) by creating lodges and they compete with one another when their vegetation needs overlap. Beavers face predation from gray wolves (Canis lupus). The prediction is that beavers adjust their activity pattern in order to reduce competition with muskrats and to avoid predation from gray wolves. Activity patterns were found by using the Snapshot USA database. Beavers share the same nocturnal activity pattern with muskrats and gray wolves have cathemeral patterns that most likely adjust to the available prey's schedule. This research has revealed that beavers have a definitive schedule that is not heavily affected by competition or predation, but more research may need to be done where an overlap of beavers with muskrats or gray wolves is more well known.