KNOWLEDGE BASE

Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a study to understand the extent of beaver activity in the Tay catchment. Scientists estimated around 38 groups lived on the catchment, of which only 3 had built dams. 99% of the trees felled were willows. They also found that, as beaver populations stabilised, narrower trees were felled. Beavers very rarely foraged on crops, with evidence of such activity found for only 2 groups. The report recommends methods for mitigating human-beaver conflict and suggests ongoing monitoring.

Eurasian beavers, once nearly extinct with only 1,200 animals in the early 1900s, have recovered through reintroductions and natural expansion. By 2010, their population had reached over 1 million. This text described how widespread they were in Europe and parts of Asia at this time, with some subspecies still at risk.

This study explores how beavers influence sediment storage in valleys with shallow slopes. Before European colonisation, abundant beavers created a complex channel network, trapping sediment and creating ecosystems called beaver meadows. Now, with fewer beavers, river networks are often only single channels, reducing opportunities for sediment storage and increasing erosion. These changes have impacts across the ecosystem, for example by reducing habitat for plants (and beavers!).

In Central and Western Poland, researchers tested wolf poo to understand what they were eating. Deer and boar were the most common prey, whilst beavers made up 1.4% on average. However, this contribution was only significant in one of the four sites - the Wałcz Forest - where beavers were abundant on rivers and lakes. The authors suggested that the abundance of wild prey and low livestock density made Western Poland ideal for wolf recovery.

This text discusses the recovery of beavers in France and their current status in different river systems. It takes a multi-scalar approach, looking at the state of play in specific regions, at a national level, and in surrounding countries. Overall, the recovery of beavers in France has been a success, but some populations are not thriving as much as others. The presence of North American beavers in neighbouring countries is discussed, raises concerns that they may outcompete the native Eurasian beaver - options for responding to this threat are also discussed.