They must live by a lot of water so they can consume a large amount, because they are unable to produce concentrated urine. The mountain beaver eats succulent herbacieous vegetation, deciduous tree bark, and leaves. The mountain beaver appears to forage at night. The Point Arena mountain beaver's reproduction rate is 2-3 young a year. The gestation period is estimated at 28 to 30 days.
All females ovulate at the same time during a period of five to seven weeks in mid or late winter.
Breeding season is quite limited. The young are born naked, blind, and helpless. Lactation probably occurs for the first two months after parturation. The mountain beaver is very vigorous in defending its nests and burrows. The reasons for the mountain beaver's disappearance is habitat alteration or loss, development, cattle and sheep grazing, and farming.