The Eurasian Beaver Handbook

Ecology and Management of Castor fiber

This book presents a detailed overview of the ecology and behaviour of the Eurasian beaver. It shows how to recognise the presence and activities of beavers. It provides tried and tested methods for mitigating adverse impacts of beaver behaviour and demonstrates how to apply management techniques in accordance with current legislation.

Beavers are widely recognised as a keystone species which play a pivotal role in riparian ecology. Their tree felling and dam building behaviours coupled with a suite of other activities create a wealth of living opportunities that are exploited by a range of other species. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that beaver-generated living environments that are much richer in terms of both biodiversity and biomass than wetland environments from which they are absent. Emerging contemporary studies indicate clearly that the landscapes they create can afford