Interesting information here:

http://www.humanwildlife.org/species/beaver.htm

May make you want to reconsider the idea...

You should research the natural habitat of a beaver. They travel far and live in wonderful dams in rivers. A beaver deprived of such an environment is just that, deprived. No matter how much love and kibble you give them, you can never give them such an environment unless you live on a fenced-in river.

The average beaver weighs 40-60 lbs, but they can grow to be 100 lbs (45 kilos). Beavers have a highly organized social structure. They need a spouse and family, which feeds their soul with happiness. Unlike most humans, they mate for life. Beavers also have musk, a smelly oil they produce from their glands through which they mark their turf. They need these glands to stay healthy. (I see you are a birthday party magician, so I am wondering how many parents will welcome a stinky 60 lb beaver into their home.)

Beavers need to eat aquatic plants and lush tender green shoots of terrestrial plants to stay healthy. Beavers poop falls apart like sawdust and they need to eat the one soft poop pellet they make daily to stay healthy.

You should call a zoo and find out just how much a beaver requires to thrive. Certain animals need so very much that they need to remain in their natural environment to be happy and healthy.

The Axtell Beaver sounds like the perfect answer, instead of spending many hours a day providing for your beaver and his/her family out in your backyard river.

Birthdays actually make up only 25% of my business. I perform well over 300 shows a year and travel all over central Canada. I would not be bringing the beaver into peoples homes. Thank you all for adding information.

Every animal needs specific requirements however that doesn't mean they cant be used. There are people that have pet skunks for instance which is also an option for me. I will continue to do my research and keep looking for breeders

The best advice, buy all you can from Bob Bailey on clicker training. If you want to work with wild animals even hand fed you need to know enough about training technics!
Trics you can do: pleny of choice I think, everything for tigers or cats just made smaller or bigger: fire case, tip over trunk, doves to beaver... Buy a group and good housing + give enough toys and food searching stuff during the day or you might vanish some fingers soon

Who else has exotic animals he works with? I used to have a hedgedog and skunk but it became illegal to own exotic pets in Belgium.

You can name your beaver Justin

FYI on Insurance

Specialty Insurance Agency, who handles the insurance for C.L.O.I. now will now cover you if you use a rabbit or dove.

When I first started with them, all animals were excluded, but they send me a letter stating that using a rabbit would alright and I would still be covered. Now they list rabbit and dove use as no longer excluded. That reminds me need to update my budget to include 2012 insurance cost.

"Magician’s are now approved to use a rabbit &/or dove during their performance."


http://www.specialtyinsuranceagency.com/......2011.pdf