Wildlife
European beavers have come back from the edge of extinction. These large rodents were found all across Europe and Asia until the beginning of the 20th century when numbers in the wild were estimated at around 1,000 - unfortunately beavers were highly prized for their fur and castoreum, the chemical they use for marking territory, communicating and water-proofing. Programmes of reintroduction and protection have seen beaver populations re-establish, most recently in Scotland following their reintroduction in 2001. As with their American cousins, Europe's beavers can have a tremendous impact on ecosystems, as they build dams that alter water flow and depth.
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Beavers in the woods
Ellie finds out more about the UK’s first beaver trial with expert Simon Jones.
In Knapdale forest, Ellie finds out more about the UK’s first beaver trial with expert Simon Jones.
Beaver bait
An apple provides the perfect bait to film beavers underwater.
An apple provides the perfect bait to film beavers underwater.
Beaver tree felling
Witness the daring skill of a wood-gnawing rodent.
Under infra-red lights, a beaver is gnawing down an aspen tree to get to its tasty leaves. Which way will it fall? And will the beaver be safe when it does?
First sight
A glimpse of a mammal back from UK extinction.
At the site of the Scottish Beaver Trial, Charlie Hamilton James catches a first glimpse of the reintroduced mammal.
Scottish beaver healthchecks
Beaver project staff catch a beaver for checks.
Project staff from the Scottish Beaver Trial go out at night to catch a beaver and perform routine healthchecks.
The European beaver can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, Europe, Mediterranean, Russia, United Kingdom. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the European beaver distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Increasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Eurasian beaver or European beaver (Castor fiber) is a species of beaver which was once widespread in Eurasia. It was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum, and by 1900 only 1,200 beavers survived in eight relict populations in Europe and Asia. Re-introduced through much of its former range, it now occurs from Great Britain to China and Mongolia, although it is absent from Italy, Portugal and the southern Balkans.
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Lakes and ponds
Marsh
Rivers and streams
Swamp
Broadleaf forest
Wetlands
Paternal care
Predation defence
Adapted to swimming
Co-operative breeding
Dung eater
Hierarchical
Acoustic communication
Herbivorous
Food storage
Maternal care
Monogamous
Nocturnal
Active at birth
Social
Chemical communication
Territorial
Viviparous