You’ll know beavers for their expert dam building skills. But did you know these robust rodents could be key to helping English ecosystems thrive? We've been reintroducing beavers to forest habitats around England – and you could play a part in the tale…
Bitesize facts: beavers
- Common names: beaver, Eurasian beaver.
- Scientific name: Castor fiber.
- Habitat: woodland areas next to streams, rivers and lakes.
- Diet: beavers are herbivores, surviving on aquatic plants and grasses, tree bark and leaves.
- Appearance: beavers can weigh up to 30kg and measure over a metre from nose to tail, making them the world's 3rd largest rodent.
- Family life: beavers live in small groups and are thought to mate for life, producing between one and four baby beavers knowns as 'kits' per year.
- Did you know? Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes.
Our beaver reintroduction projects
England has lost many native species over time, mostly through pollution and destruction of habitats. Now we’re seeing the effects of climate change devastating our wildlife and their woodland spaces, which makes our species reintroduction projects more vital than ever.
We’re putting our wildlife and biodiversity expertise to good use at locations across England, as we reintroduce beaver colonies to carefully managed wetland spaces. Now we're monitoring these incredible creatures in their new habitats as they build dams, grow their families and enrich our forest environments.
Ecosystem engineers
Beavers were hunted to extinction over 400 years ago, leaving a gap in England’s ecosystems. These charismatic creatures are known as a keystone species which means their presence has a big impact on other wildlife. From slowing floodwaters to creating homes for bats and bugs, beavers provide some incredible benefits for nature and people.
Flood fighters – drought defiers
Beavers’ dams create natural pools and wetlands, slowing the flow of storm water and reducing the flood risk further downstream. These freshwater pools help to reduce the effect of low river water levels in the summer and provide a home for frogspawn and tadpoles – a biodiversity balancing act.
Wetland warriors
Beavers naturally ‘coppice’ or gnaw waterside trees, opening up the canopy and letting sunlight in. This encourages vegetation growth, which supports insect life and fungi, and provides a feast for breeding birds. Beavers also improve water quality by filtering sediment and pollutants, helping to support the entire forest ecosystem.
How to spot a beaver
Head to an area where beavers have been located, preferably at dawn or dusk. Find some water near a woodland and look and listen for beaver activity. You might hear splashing or gnawing sounds, or spot felled trees, stripped branches or chips of wood with distinctive scalloped teeth marks.
Let’s grow the future together
Reintroductions are rarely easy, but so far we've successfully introduced beaver habitats in key forest locations and supported the restoration of wetland ecosystems.
We’re always looking for nature-loving volunteers – could you help us grow the future, alongside our waterproof-furred friends?
Frequently asked questions about beavers
Beavers were hunted to extinction in England around the 16th century, by people who wanted their thick fur, meat and castoreum (an oily substance produced by their scent glands, used in perfume and medicines). Some farmers and landowners used to hunt beaver as they feared they would damage timber and cause flooding with their dams, however beavers are now a protected native species in England and Scotland.
Yes. By studying fossils and historical records we can tell that Eurasian beavers were native to Britain and existed in our wild spaces for thousands of years before they became extinct.
Now, we’re working hard to reintroduce this valuable species back into our woodlands, where they can once again play an important role in nature. We’re also working with local people and partners to find practical ways for beavers and people to share the landscape alongside forestry, farming and other land uses.
At present, Eurasian beavers are not considered endangered – however, they’re much less widespread than they used to be. Thankfully, carefully-managed restoration and conservation projects, such as ours listed above, have helped to restore beaver numbers in a sustainable and controlled way. Beavers are now a protected native species in England and Scotland, helping the population to grow and thrive.
Beavers spend most of their time in or near water, where they feel safe, and generally only feed on broadleaved trees near the waterline. Many of our native trees don’t die when chewed by beavers, as they have evolved to respond by producing new growth.
This is just like the human woodland management technique of coppicing, but driven by nature. In fact, beavers can make wet woodlands healthier and more resilient by creating gaps for new plants and encouraging trees of different ages to grow. This creates a more diverse woodland that can cope better with environmental changes. Beaver activity also creates valuable deadwood habitat for other species.
