Contents

Contributors

Foreword

Rhagair

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

1.1Aims and purpose of this handbook

2. The history of beavers in Britain

2.1Beaver reintroduction in Britain

3. Beaver biology and ecology

3.1Taxonomy and distribution

3.2Anatomy and appearance

3.3Breeding and young

3.4Habitat and territoriality

3.5Diet and feeding

3.6Behaviours

3.7Parasites and diseases

3.8Population biology

3.9North American beaver introductions

4. Legislation

5. Effects of beavers

5.1Beavers as ecosystem engineers

5.2Beavers and species of high conservation value

5.3Beaver effects at a catchment scale

5.4Beavers in landscape-restoration projects

5.5Beavers and managed land use

5.5.1Agriculture

5.5.2Horticulture

5.5.3Woodland and forestry

5.5.4Fisheries

5.5.5Engineered environments

5.5.6Recreational areas and water bodies

6. Managing beaver impacts

6.1Damming activity and associated management techniques

6.1.1Ecology

6.1.2Benefits

6.1.3Issues

6.1.4Management options

6.1.5Animal-welfare considerations

6.2Burrowing and associated activities

6.2.1Ecology

6.2.2Benefits

6.2.3Issues

6.2.4Management options

6.2.5Animal-welfare considerations

6.3Foraging activity and associated management techniques

6.3.1Ecology

6.3.2Benefits

6.3.3Issues

6.3.4Management options

6.3.5Animal-welfare considerations

6.4Animal management

6.4.1Ecology

6.4.2Benefits

6.4.3Issues

6.4.4Management options

6.4.5Animal-welfare considerations

7. Survey and monitoring

7.1Non-invasive monitoring techniques

7.2Habitat suitability/habitat-use survey

7.3Monitoring beaver population size and development

7.4Distribution mapping and population estimates

7.5Habitat assessment prior to beaver release

8. Learning to live with beavers

8.1Future management recommendations

8.2Public relations, education and socioeconomics

8.3Conclusion

Appendix A: Eurasian beaver field signs

A.1Teeth marks

A.2Felled and gnawed trees

A.3Ring-barking/ bark stripping

A.4Grazed lawns and cut vascular plants

A.5Feeding stations

A.6Foraging trails

A.7Lodges and burrows

A.8Food caches

A.9Dams

A.10Canals

A.11Scent mounds

A.12Faeces

A.13Tracks

Appendix B: Diseases and parasites of the Eurasian beaver

B.1Parasites

B.2Bacteria

B.3Fungi

B.4Yeasts

B.5Viruses

Appendix C: Beaver-management techniques

C.1Flow devices – dam piping

C.2Flow devices – culvert protection

C.3Dam-removal/dam-notching

C.4Burrow management

C.5Bank and flood-bank wall protection

C.6Individual tree protection

C.6.1 Mesh protection

C.6.2 Paint protection

C.7Electric fencing

C.8Permanent exclusion fencing

C.9Deterrent fencing – ditches and small streams

C.10Trapping and translocation

C.10.1Bavarian beaver traps

C.10.2Boat trapping

C.11Humane dispatch

Appendix D: Management protocol chart

Appendix E: Captive beaver fencing recommendations

Appendix F: Terminology for various beaver-management devices

Appendix G: Beaver fieldwork risk assessment

Appendix H: Beaver survey data sheets from the Scottish Beaver Trial

References

Glossary

Index