In stew meat, I found no difference in texture or taste between two year olds and adults. I've not noticed a difference in taste between stream beavers and swamp beavers, and I've not noticed a difference in taste from beavers eating sweet gum and those eating pine. They all taste the same. Then again I'm old and my taste buds are diminishing, I'm sure.

You would think so, but apparently they can acquire tolerance to the alkaloids in the plant. It was either an Alexander Ross or Peter Ogden led Hudson Bay expedition that was camping on a tributary of the Snake river. Some of the men ate beaver and some ate deer one evening. Those that ate beaver all became deathly ill. The expedition remained there for several days trying to help the inflicted men recover. They were trying to figure out what made the men ill and the question of whether it could be the beaver game up. A Digger (Paiute) woman came into camp and was offered beaver meat and when she looked at the beaver immediately refused it.

Subsequently the river was named the "Malad" river. Or French for sickly river.