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European beaver ecologyWhat is a Beaver?Beavers are rodents just like mice! However they are much larger, in fact, they are the second biggest rodent in the world weighing in between 11 and 26kg and growing up to 4 foot long! Beavers are highly social animals, living in family groups, in and around freshwater. They are a very important part of the aquatic environment and are known as “keystone species” because of their benefits to other species and the habitats they create. There are two species of beaver Castor canadiensis (found in the USA, Canada and Mexico) and Castor fiber, the Eurasian beaver, which was found across Europe.
Water BabiesBeavers love water they feel safe in the aquatic environment. Any sign of danger and they can disappear under water. They can swim at an amazing 2.1 metres per second and can stay underwater for 15 minutes! VegetariansBeavers only eat plant material (they don’t eat fish). Their huge incisors (two front teeth) and molars are used to chew vegetable matter. Beavers won’t eat conifers but the bark and cambium layer of deciduous trees is very tasty as are lily rhizomes (root stores). All in all they have been recorded to eat 80 species of tree and nearly 150 species of herbaceous and aquatic plants. Plant material is difficult to digest so they have micro-organisms living in their gut which have enzymes to break down the tough plant material. Beavers have to eat lots to get enough goodness. “Timber”!Beavers are famous for felling trees. The reason they like to fell trees is not only for building material but also so they can access more food that would normally be out of reach. The record diameter for a beaver felled tree is 106cm! Their large front teeth are ideal for chipping away at the trunk of a birch, willow or aspen tree. They like to fell trees near the waters edge so they can drag them into the water and float them easily to their lodge or dam. DamsBeavers sometimes build dams to raise the water level of a particular area. They are hard-wired to stay in water for safety from predators, so if they want to access more trees they sometimes extended their loch. Beavers are stimulated to build dams where they can hear running water and begin damming where the sound of water is loudest. They use sticks to construct the dam and mud is plastered over it to make it watertight. LodgingsBeavers live in lodges which are constructed in a similar way to dams (sticks and mud). They can also dig into the bank of a river or loch and create a series of tunnels and chambers. The entrance is always under water, protected by sticks, again for protection from predators. Just beyond the entrance is a feeding chamber with tunnels leading to the sleeping chambers. Usually they take about 20 days to make. Imagine building your house that quickly! When Evening comes…….Beavers are nocturnal (active mostly at night time and rest in the day). Their whiskers are important for feeling their way around in the dark as is their sense of smell and hearing. Fancy Words
The History of Beavers in BritainBeavers were widespread on mainland Britain but were hunted to extinction about 450 years ago. Castoreum (an oil secretion from the anal gland) was thought to have medicinal purposes, their meat was considered good to eat and their fur made excellent hats for cold weather because of its insulating and waterproof properties. There have been several successful reintroductions in Europe including in Sweden, Norway and Poland. Scotland has ideal beaver habitat…………… Reintroducing Beavers to ScotlandThe beaver’s role as a keystone species has been evident for a long time and its reintroduction to Scotland would have ecological benefits. Their dams sustain water flow and prevent flooding. Their engineering also enables slow release of water during dry periods. Diversity of the riparian zone (the area around the river) increases with the presence of beavers. They also raise the level of the water table which is good for crops. Overall the Scottish people are for the reintroduction, provided that there are suitable management controls in place, but there are some groups, for example fishermen and foresters, who are against the reintroduction of the beaver. Several groups in support of the beaver have been campaigning for the reintroduction. More research and demonstration projects are needed to prove how beavers would benefit the ecosystem and people. This is why Aigas introduced two beavers to the loch in April 2006. The Aigas Beavers
Text researched and presented by Jenny Grant and Ian Sargent Click here to read the 2007 Aigas beaver diary
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