Beavers can have strong impacts as ecosystem engineers.

Castor canadensis, the North American beaver, is found throughout most of Canada and the United States (fig. 17.14). Beavers have been commercially exploited for their pelts, which has caused population crashes in part of their range, particularly in the southern and central United States. Across North America reintroductions and legislative protections have resulted in increases in population densities over the last several decades. As you may recognize, beavers aren't quite like most other rodent species, and as a result, they can have pronounced impacts on the structure of communities in which they live.