KNOWLEDGE BASE

Beaver ponds host unique biodiversity which is different from that found in other landscapes. Restoring beavers to their native habitats can enhance freshwater biodiversity, but beavers alone won't solve freshwater biodiversity issues. This study is based on a survey of plants and beetles in southern Sweden.

In this study, scientists tested otters, raccoons, and beavers for the presence of mercury and other chemicals. It found that mercury was more concentrated in otters (who eat fish) than beavers (who eat plants). The results also suggested a possible connection between higher mercury levels and a higher quantity of parasites. Overall, this study demonstrated the threat of human pollution to ecosystem health. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

Scientists tested beavers from Scotland, England, Norway, and Germany for a type of disease which can kill them, and so impact on reintroduction efforts. Seven out of 151 beavers showed exposure. No significant health issues were observed, indicating only a low-level of infection by this disease in the beavers being brought back to Britain.

This paper investigates the complex social dimensions of wildlife reintroductions, and that the need to recognise societal perceptions is crucial for developing a management strategy that garners social support and minimizes conflicts.
Four social areas that decision-makers should consider were identified: social dimensions, including stakeholder perceptions, engagement methods, legal protection, management responsibilities, and support for management techniques.

In this study, scientists studied how Eurasian beavers in Norway respond to intruders. Observations showed that, at lower population densities, beavers reacted more strongly to intrusions, showing more territorial behaviours and aggression. This result fitted into an expanding body of research understanding how population density affects beaver behaviour around, for example, dispersal from the place they were born.