KNOWLEDGE BASE

This article explores the role of small streams, often found in hilly or mountainous areas. These streams usually don't carry much dirt or debris. Heavy rains can lead to more sediment flow. Tree-felling can, too, as well as leading to more landslides. When temporary ponds form, beavers sometimes occupy them, leading to longer-term changes to the sediment flow of these systems.

In this study, researchers report on the distribution and nutritional content of the meat of wild beavers. They find that beaver thighs made up one-third of the overall body weight and contained two-thirds of the overall meat. The meat had a high protein content. In some parts of the world, there is a tradition for hunting beaver for meat but, until this study, most beaver meat research was based on beavers held in captivity. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

Researchers found that areas with beaver dams created ideal conditions for an invasive plant species (Phalaris arundinacea) in Oregon, USA. This invasive plant outcompeted native plants and led to a reduction of biodiversity. Since there are a lot of beaver wetlands in the area, the researchers warned that this plant presents a threat to local ecosystem health. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This text reports on a beaver using a willow stem as a tool to reach higher branches for food. This unique behaviour reduced the need for land foraging, lowering the risk of predation to the beaver. This is the first reported instance of a beaver using a tool to help with foraging.

This study tracked 32 young beavers in southern Illinois to understand their movements as they disperse from their home sites. They present a wide variety of results, including: how far the beavers travel, when in the year the beavers left and when they settled, how many left the home site and how many survived the process. They also explore the impact of geography, sex, and age on each these findings; for example, male beavers moved more frequently and for further distances than females, but ended up settling a similar distance away. Please note, this resource is not open-access.