KNOWLEDGE BASE

This report is a very visual scientific summary of the Devon Beaver Project. It looks at how the reintroduction of beavers has influenced the landscape, water quality, as well as local flora and fauna. The beavers helped, amongst other things, to mitigate agricultural water pollution.

This study in the USA examined the weekly diet of wolves from late June to early October by following a single pack and analysing their poo! The wolves' diet was varied and beavers made up a smaller proportion of their diet than anticipated. The text discussed why this might be the case, taking into account the availability of other prey and the times of year when beavers are most vulnerable to predation.

Researchers in the USA examined how weekend human activity affects wildlife. Over 6 months, they observed four different species. Whilst animals which are active in the day (diurnal) are often affected by increased human presence on weekends, nocturnal species like beavers and mountain lions did not respond to human activity. However, raccoons (nocturnal) and mule deer (active at dawn and dusk) adjusted their behaviour near campgrounds during the weekend. This suggests that the 'weekend effect' primarily affects diurnal animals. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

This article reviewed and compared the variety of computer models used to predict where beavers will settle down and make their home in North American river systems. These models are useful, amongst other things, for preventing damage to human infrastructure. The models varied quite a lot, but some factors were consistently applied: stream steepness and forest cover were important influences in beavers' decisions.

This research focussed on the mating decisions of Eurasian beavers and the life of beaver couples. In general, beavers preferred partners of similar age and were mostly monogamous. However, some older females mate with younger 'boy-toy' males who are not in the established pair. The research explores why this might be, and how age also affects territories. Please note, this resource is not open-access.