Science database
KNOWLEDGE BASE
We have gathered decades of scientific research from Great Britain, continental Europe and North America to share with people interested in diving deeper into the world of beavers.
This list of resources is being constantly amended and updated.
Showing 774 articles
Current status of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in the Boletice military training area
Published by: Silva Gabreta
1st December 2023
Six beaver territories and 34 individual beavers were identified in the Boletice military area, Czech Republic, during winter 2021/2022. These beavers mostly consumed willow trees, typically up to 6 cm in diameter. Please note, this paper is written in Czech but the abstract is available in English.
The impact of the different period of occurrence of the European beaver population on its feeding behavior and impact on the environment
Published by: Polish Journal of Natural Sciences
1st December 2023
For this study, scientists compared two beaver populations: one which was introduced 42 years ago, and another which had been around for 72 years. By comparing them, scientists hoped to learn about beavers' foraging strategies and impacts on tree biodiversity. Whilst the older population moved further away from the water's edge to find food than the younger population, both were assessed to be following 'Optimal Foraging Theory.'
Human-beaver cohabitation in the Early and Mid-Holocene of Northern Europe: Re-visiting Mesolithic material culture and ecology through a multispecies lens
Published by: The Holocene
17th October 2023
This fascinating study explored the place that Eurasian beavers had in human societies across northern Europe in the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic periods. It analysed findings of beaver teeth being used in human tools and also as pendants, including in human burial sites. The text also suggested that beavers' skills in habitat creation may have supported human hunter-gathering activities. The research used a multi-species lens to try to understand the significance of these different human-beaver interactions, which are summarised in Figure 8.
Environmental suitability and potential range expansion of the Eurasian beaver in Italy
Published by: Animal Conservation
22nd September 2023
Reintroducing species like the Eurasian beaver can cause human-wildlife conflicts; this is true for most ecosystem engineers, carnivores, or large herbivores. In this study, researchers built computer models to identify where, in Italy, beaver populations would most likely expand to and where potential human-beaver conflicts would most likely arise. They found that the conflict risk was higher for beaver populations in central Italy than in northern Italy, which may help guide future management efforts.
Beavers are not alone: parasitic assessment of released Eurasian beavers in Central Italy
Published by: Mammal Research
21st September 2023
Since 2019, Eurasian beavers have established populations in Central Italy. In this article, researchers analysed their parasites and pathogens, identifying Giardia, Trichuris, and a new nematode species. New ectoparasites, bacteria, and blowflies were also recorded. These findings highlighted that a full disease risk analysis should be conducted to assess potential risks to wildlife, livestock, and human health. Please note, this resource is not open-access.