Beaver
The Eurasian Beaver or European Beaver is one of the largest living species of rodents and it is the largest rodent native to Eurasia. It weighs around 24 to 66 pounds with an average of 40 pounds. Typically the head and body length is 31 to 39 inches and the tail length is 9.8 to 19.7 inches. The fur colour of the Beaver varies geographically from light chestnut-rust to blackish-brown.
The Beaver was once widespread in Eurasia. It was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum (a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties) and by 1900 only 1200 beavers survived in 8 relict populations in Europe and Asia.
In many European nations, the Beaver became extinct but reintroduction and protection has led to gradual recovery to about 639,000 individuals by 2003 and it now occurs from the UK to China and Mongolia although it is absent from Italy, Portugal, the southern Balkans and the Middle East. About 83% can be found in the former Soviet Union.
In the UK, the Beaver became extinct in the 16th century but, as a former native species, interest in reintroducing it to the wild across the UK has been shown. It has been suggested that Beaver dams could retain water in upland areas, reducing flood volumes and creating new habitats for wildlife. Currently, Beaver populations are found in a number of large enclosures in wildlife parks, as well as free-living populations around the River Tay and Knapdale areas in Scotland and the River Otter in Devon. The Knapdale population was deliberately released whilst the other populations are of unknown origin.
The Beaver is a keystone species helping support the ecosystem of which they are a part. It creates wetlands which increase biodiversity and provide habitat for many rare species such as Water Voles, Otters, and Water Shrews. It coppices waterside trees and shrubs so that they regrow as dense shrubs which provide cover for birds and other animals. Beaver dams trap sediment and improve water quality and recharge groundwater tables and increase cover for trout and salmon.
The Beaver has a single litter of young per year, coming into oestrus for only 12 to 24 hours between late December and May and peaking in January. Unlike most other rodents, Beaver pairs are monogamous and stay together for multiple breeding seasons. Gestation averages 107 days and litters average 3 kits with a range of 2 to 6 kits. Most Beavers do not reproduce until they are 3 years of age.
This poor quality record photo was taken from a moving boat in very low evening light!
Date: 11th May 2016
Location: Kasari river, Matsalu National Park, Estonia
The Beaver was once widespread in Eurasia. It was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum (a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties) and by 1900 only 1200 beavers survived in 8 relict populations in Europe and Asia.
In many European nations, the Beaver became extinct but reintroduction and protection has led to gradual recovery to about 639,000 individuals by 2003 and it now occurs from the UK to China and Mongolia although it is absent from Italy, Portugal, the southern Balkans and the Middle East. About 83% can be found in the former Soviet Union.
In the UK, the Beaver became extinct in the 16th century but, as a former native species, interest in reintroducing it to the wild across the UK has been shown. It has been suggested that Beaver dams could retain water in upland areas, reducing flood volumes and creating new habitats for wildlife. Currently, Beaver populations are found in a number of large enclosures in wildlife parks, as well as free-living populations around the River Tay and Knapdale areas in Scotland and the River Otter in Devon. The Knapdale population was deliberately released whilst the other populations are of unknown origin.
The Beaver is a keystone species helping support the ecosystem of which they are a part. It creates wetlands which increase biodiversity and provide habitat for many rare species such as Water Voles, Otters, and Water Shrews. It coppices waterside trees and shrubs so that they regrow as dense shrubs which provide cover for birds and other animals. Beaver dams trap sediment and improve water quality and recharge groundwater tables and increase cover for trout and salmon.
The Beaver has a single litter of young per year, coming into oestrus for only 12 to 24 hours between late December and May and peaking in January. Unlike most other rodents, Beaver pairs are monogamous and stay together for multiple breeding seasons. Gestation averages 107 days and litters average 3 kits with a range of 2 to 6 kits. Most Beavers do not reproduce until they are 3 years of age.
This poor quality record photo was taken from a moving boat in very low evening light!
Date: 11th May 2016
Location: Kasari river, Matsalu National Park, Estonia
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Also in: Estonia
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