Beavers

The idea that beavers eat fish is a myth. Beavers are strictly herbivores. They eat tree bark, leaves, twigs, roots, and aquatic plants, but never fish or other animals. Their dams may create great fish habitat but beavers themselves don’t hunt or eat fish.

Beavers are generally not dangerous and avoid people. They are shy, peaceful animals that only defend themselves if threatened or cornered. However, a beaver can bite with its strong teeth if it feels trapped or if someone approaches its young. Keeping a respectful distance keeps both you and the beaver safe.

No, it’s very unlikely we’ll become overpopulated with beavers. Their numbers naturally balance with available habitat and food. Beavers need specific conditions—fresh water, trees, and space—so populations regulate themselves. In managed reintroductions, monitoring and control plans ensure beaver numbers stay sustainable and don’t harm local environments or land use.

Native tree species like willow or alder which have evolved alongside beavers over millions of years do not die when felled. They coppice, re-rooting from felled stems or debarked cuttings and grow rapidly. Non-native species such as beech and cedar will die if felled but they are not preferred species of choice for beavers. If felled the deadwood will provide a home for over 2000 species of invertebrates, a shelter for fish to rest or hide from predators and perches for many species of birds including Kingfishers. Individual trees can be easily protected from beaver browsing. The tree can be simply wrapped with wire mesh or painted with a mix of exterior based latex paint and fine sand.

In some areas beaver dams can sometimes cause undesirable flooding in fields and areas surrounding rivers. These issues are usually small-scale and localised. There are well-established methods for mitigating these conflicts. Flow devices can be installed, or the dams can be notched (these methods lower the water in a pond behind a beaver dam whilst allowing beavers to continue dam building) or dams can be removed, depending on the site. You need to be trained and have a license to do this work. 

In the main, beavers reduce major flooding, improve water storage, and create rich wetlands that benefit wildlife and ecosystems. Beavers help flooding by creating dams which reduces flood risk. Beaver habitat also creates habitat for other wildlife too.

Beavers are not only good for wildlife, but great for people too as their activity helps to improve water quality.

Beavers disappeared from England by the 16th century due to overhunting for their fur, meat, and castoreum (a valuable secretion used in medicine and perfume). Habitat loss from deforestation and wetland drainage further reduced their numbers, leading to extinction.

We need beavers because they create wetlands that boost biodiversity, reduce flooding, filter water, store carbon, and help combat drought. Their dams can create diverse channels of different depths, improve ecosystems, and support wildlife, making them vital natural engineers for healthy, resilient landscapes.

Beavers improve water quality by building dams that slow water flow, allowing sediments, pollutants, and excess nutrients to settle, and therefore preventing them from flowing downstream. Their wetlands filter water naturally, trapping contaminants and reducing erosion. This process creates cleaner, clearer water and supports healthier aquatic ecosystems downstream.

Beavers build dams to create deep, still water that protects them from predators and provides easy access to food. The ponds formed by their dams also help them reach trees safely, store branches for winter, and build secure lodges with underwater entrances.