Eurasian Beaver

Historically, Eurasian Beavers faced near-extinction due to extensive hunting for their fur, meat, and castoreum—a secretion used in perfumes and medicines. Through conservation efforts, including legal protection and reintroduction programs, their populations have begun to recover in parts of their historical range. They are known for their remarkable ability to modify landscapes to suit their needs by building dams and lodges, which in turn create wetlands—biodiverse ecosystems that benefit a wide array of species.

The diet of the Eurasian Beaver is exclusively herbivorous, consisting of tree bark, aquatic plants, branches, and leaves. This diet changes with the seasons, with a preference for softer, green vegetation in the spring and summer, and bark and twigs in the winter. Their ability to fell large trees with their strong, continuously growing incisors plays a crucial role in the maintenance of their environment, promoting regrowth and diversification of plant life.

Reproduction in Eurasian Beavers is monogamous, with pairs forming long-term bonds. Breeding typically occurs once a year, with females giving birth to one to four kits in the spring. The family unit, or colony, works together to maintain the dam and lodge, providing a safe, warm environment for the young. Beavers are known for their complex social structures and behaviors, including the use of vocalizations and scent markings for communication within the colony.

The Eurasian Beaver is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, reflecting successful conservation and reintroduction efforts that have stabilized and increased populations in several regions. However, challenges remain, including habitat loss due to human development, pollution, and conflicts arising from their landscape-altering activities. Continued conservation efforts are essential to ensure the long-term survival and expansion of Eurasian Beaver populations, highlighting the importance of this keystone species in freshwater ecosystems.