There are an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 beavers now living in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or CT DEEP.

The return of these amazing rodents is a conservation success story, much like the great comeback stories of ospreys and bald eagles. But it didn't come easily.

Beavers were extirpated from Connecticut and much of their eastern range by the mid-1800s. Their velvety soft, durable pelts were shipped by the thousands to Europe, where they were turned into coats or felt top hats, becoming the rage from the late 16th to mid-19th centuries.

But thanks to trapping regulations and decades of restoration work by dedicated wildlife managers, these unique animals have made a stunning comeback. In fact, there are now more beavers in Connecticut than at any time during the past three centuries, CT DEEP officials claim.

When I started researching beavers, I was reminded of those cartoon images we often see of furry, buck-toothed rodents, with flat tails, waddling about. But I soon discovered there's far more to this semi-aquatic animal than meets the eye.

Adult beavers, for example, are hefty, weighing 30-65 pounds, and active. In fact, you might even say they were born to build dams. Why?

Dams raise water levels, providing a refuge for beavers and their families from predators. And if there are any leaks in their dams, both adults and juveniles quickly become, as the saying goes, "busy as beavers," plastering over holes with sticks, brush and mud for a good reason. Their lives depend upon it.

"On land, beavers typically walk on all four legs, but if carrying mud or sticks, they may hold the materials in their front paws and walk upright," writes Judy M. Wilson, author of "Beavers in Connecticut, Their Natural History and Management," an excellent information piece, commissioned by CT DEEP.

In water, Wilson said these versatile animals are completely waterproofed.

"When underwater, thin membranes protect the beaver's eyes, and internal valves automatically close within the ears and nose," Wilson said, adding, "The lips can seal tightly around the front teeth, preventing water from entering the throat and trachea and enabling the beaver to chew underwater."

Worldwide, there are only two species of beavers: The American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the Eurasian (Castor fiber). They are the second largest rodent, next to the South American capybaras, which can grow up to 174 pounds.

While dams are being built, beavers may temporarily hole up in riverbanks. Then once the dams are secure and the water begins rising, beavers will build dome-shaped homes, called lodges, equipped with two underwater entrances.

Some lodges are huge, measuring 20-40 feet across, and 4-8 feet high, above the water line.

Inside, the layout is simple and functional, usually featuring two rooms: one for drying off (I smile and think of our mud rooms); the other for socializing and sleeping in.

By their nature, beavers are social, often living in colonies. Amazingly, beavers have even been known to share their lodges with families of muskrats.

Beavers usually mate for life. They breed in January or February, and the female gives birth to 2-6 kits by May or early June. Wilson notes the young remain with the adults until their second year (in the same lodge), at which time they are forced to leave the parent colony.

Finally, one must talk about the impacts of beavers on our lives. Some are good and some are bad.

The positives are beaver activity often creates vital wetland habitat for fish and waterfowl. Others include pollution filtration, chemical and nutrient absorption, flood control, and aquatic productivity, to name a few.

Negatives include tree cutting, flooding of private and public lands, damage to man-made structures, and water quality and public health issues, to name a few.

The good news is there are methods to protect trees from beaver damage, using so-called exclusion fencing, and clever water level control devices that wildlife management professionals can install to prevent flooding of private lands.

In other words, where there's a will, there's a way.

And let's not forget something else: "The beavers are simply doing what is natural, and tolerating their activity is part of coexisting with wildlife," Wilson sensibly writes.

Bill Hobbs lives in Stonington and can be reached for comments at whobbs246@gmail.com.