Did you see the amazing Beaver footage on BBC's Wild Isles this week? Gemma Varley works alongside these marvellous mammals as a Ranger on our Loch Lomond nature reserve. In this blog, she tells us a little more about them, including why their presence is important to so many other species.
For over 400 years Beavers were absent from our waterways. Thankfully they are now making a comeback. Beavers are native to the UK but were persecuted for their fur and castoreum - a secretion they use for scent that people used for perfume food and medicine. This hunting led to their extinction in the 16th century. Now, after reintroductions, they are back on our wild isles.
Beavers are large aquatic rodents, weighing up to 25kg. They are social animals living in family groups with a breeding pair and their offspring. Beavers have close family bonds; they often spend time grooming each other, and the previous year’s offspring help look after younger Beavers, known as kits. They live in lodges which are made with branches and built by by digging tunnels at the water’s edge. One of their more remarkable features are their multipurpose tails. As well as acting as a rudder when swimming, they also use them to defend themselves by ‘tail slapping’, making a large splash to ward off predators. Beavers feel safest in water, and so will swim around their territory, leaving the water mainly to feed.
Beavers are much more at home in water than on land. Image credit: Beaver Trust
Beavers are often referred to as ‘Ecosystem Engineers’ because they have a significant positive effect on their environment. By making their territory the best it can be for them, we also create habitats for many other species.
Beavers build dams, often found across small waterways, with branches and mud. These dams increase the water depth, enabling the Beavers to swim easier and keeping them safe from predators. Not only that, but they also provide a habitat for many other creatures such as dragonflies, fish, birds and other mammals such as Water Voles. By holding the water back, these dams store and slow the flow of the water, reducing flood risks downstream. These Beaver wetlands also capture carbon by locking it up thus creating a carbon sink. Water has even been found to be cleaner in Beaver habitats because their dams act as a natural filter! The benefit of these dams is far reaching, where their wetlands can even provide safe refuge for wildlife in the event of wildfires.
So, what do Beavers eat? As herbivores, they feed on a variety of plants, grasses, tree bark and leaves. They have large teeth adapted to chew on trees for their bark and to fell the tree for construction materials. The branches from these trees are not only a food source, but also used to build their dams and lodges. Tree-felling doesn’t actually kill the tree but ‘coppices’ it, promoting new growth from the remaining stump. Moreover, felling opens up areas providing a more varied habitat that will be able to support more species. The fallen branches become ‘deadwood’ - a lifeline for our insects to live and breed in. The insects then become food for our birds and mammals and so our Beaver wetlands are bursting with life!
Footage of one of the Beavers recently released at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond.
I am very lucky to be working at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond where we recently had a family of Beavers translocated and released on to the reserve. It has been amazing to see these animals back in our wild places after being absent for so long. We have really enjoyed watching them on remote cameras, being ‘busy beavers’, as they get to work building lodges and dams. We are really looking forward to seeing how the Beavers help improve the habitats here, and how other species may benefit. Keep an eye on the RSPB Loch Lomond Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates.
Header image shows a Beaver eating while sitting in grass.