Beavers

Beavers were formerly one of the most widespread mammals in Eurasia, and one of the most influential in structuring vegetation and landscape. They had profound effects in shaping freshwaters and their margins, with consequences for how water runs through the systems, for biodiversity, and for human uses of freshwaters. After near extinction 100 years ago, beavers are now back in most of Europe, and will become very much more common and widespread in the near future. 

In the modern world of intense human use of watersides, this poses management challenges to maximise the benefits of, and minimize conflicts with, beaver activities. In these pages we present information on beavers and their management which can help with integrating beavers into modern landscapes

 

Review article

Halley, Saveljev & Rosell (2020). Population and distribution of beavers in Eurasia. Mammal Review.

 

Presentations

Eurasian beaver population and distribution - the past, the present and future

Beavers and salmon & trout angling in Norway

Historien om bever i Norge og utsetting av norske bever i Eurasia (in Norwegian)

Management frameworks and technique for beavers in Europe

Bever i Orkland, Trøndelag – historien om utsetting og spredning siden 1920-tallet (in Norwegian)

’They thought they were fish’ – medieval beaver myths and a ‘myth of Medievalism’ (short)

 

Contacts