KNOWLEDGE BASE

This study examined habitat selection by the rare Eurasian beaver subspecies, Castor fiber birulai, in a beaver reserve in Xinjiang, China. The text assessed the size and location of beavers' scent mounds in spring and autumn, reporting that beavers preferred to place the mounds near large trees, river edges, and away from human disturbance, offering guidance for conservation efforts. Please note, this text is mostly written in (Simplified) Chinese.

This paper examined how Eurasian beaver populations in six nature reserves in European Russia fluctuated over time. By modelling the interaction between beavers and their food sources, four population patterns were identified. The paper explains each pattern and describes the influence of different environmental factors. Please note, this resource is not open-access.

The Eurasian beaver, made extinct in Transcarpathia (western Ukraine) by the 18th century, reappeared in 2003 and has since expanded rapidly. This article compiled (with photos!) and mapped various observations which evidenced a new colony in an area near Mukachevo which used to be underwater before humans drained the lake in the 1800s. It appeared that beavers were increasing their range in this region by spreading further into tributaries and shallow water bodies. The authors highlighted the potential risk of human-beaver conflict on agricultural lands nearby.

Along the Slovakia-Hungary border, different beaver populations may have merged. This text reported on field observations from 2016 in this area, collating evidence of beavers' presence on both sides of the border. Possible dispersal routes were discussed but more monitoring was needed to confirm whether mixing had yet occurred. A merging of populations could enhance genetic diversity and support the Eurasian beaver's long-term establishment in this area. The paper also estimated that there were around 15,000 beavers in Hungary and 8,000 in Slovakia, overall.

Researchers followed Eurasian beavers in Russia over 6 years to better understand beaver territories and how these relate to beaver signs. Signs of beavers can be long-lived (like the dams) or short-lived (like scent marks) - overall, ecologicsts call this the beavers' signalling field. The results showed that a high signalling field density indicated depleted food resources for the beaver. Beavers can quickly move into areas lacking these signals, expanding their range in the process. Please note, this resource is not open-access.