Comeback of the beaver Castor fiber: An overview of old and new conservation problems

Nolet, Bart A.; Rosell, Frank

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(97)00066-9

Cited by 193 publications

(220 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…belarusicus) being translocated. Little detailed information is available regarding distribution and numbers; however, the species seems to be widespread throughout the forest zone of European Russia (Lavrov 1983;Nolet & Rosell 1998). A population of c. 2000 C. canadensis is established in Russian Karelia, through immigration from Finland assisted by the introduction of 6 specimens near Lake Onega in 1964 (Danilov 1995;Nolet 1997).…”

Section: History and Status Of Beaver Populations By Country Russia mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The total Russian population was estimated in 1983 at 170000 (Lavrov 1983;Nolet & Rosell 1998); in recent years the population is said to have been on the increase (Andreyev et. al.…”

Section: History and Status Of Beaver Populations By Country Russia mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, populations are spreading into Ukraine from Russia and Belarus. The current population is estimated at 12500 (Nolet & Rosell 1998).…”

Section: Ukrainementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prized for its fur and castoreum, a glandular secretion used in territorial marking by beavers but valued by humans as a medicine and perfume base, overhunting eliminated C. fiber throughout most of its range by the middle 19 th century. At the beginning of the 20 th century about 1200 individuals remained in eight isolated populations (Nolet & Rosell 1998) (Figs. 1 & 2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considerable expansions in range, and many new reintroductions, have taken place even since the mid-1990s (Nolet & Rosell 1998). An ambitious programme to recolonise the entire Danube basin is now underway, and there have been very recent reintroductions to Denmark and Belgium (below).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The beaver's reconquest of Eurasia: status, population development and management of a conservation success

Halley¹,

2002

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Overhunting reduced Eurasian beaver Castor fiber populations to c. 1200 animals, in eight isolated populations, around the end of the 19 th Century. Protection, natural spread, and reintroductions led to a powerful recovery in both range and populations during the 20 th Century, which continues at a rapid pace. The minimum current population estimate is 465000. There are also c. 12500 North American beaver C. canadensis established in Finland and Russian Karelia; however, other populations of canadensis introduced in Austria, Poland and France appear to be extinct. Populations are now established throughout Europe with the exception of the British Isles, Iberia, Italy, and the southern Balkans; reintroductions are continuing. Considerable further expansion in range and population, especially in western Europe and the lower Danube basin, can be expected. If current trends continue, C. fiber will within a few decades be a fairly common mammal in most of Europe. Expanding populations typically show a pattern of rapid range extension within a watershed, followed only later by rapid population growth; and a barrier effect of watershed divides, which can be strongly isolating where physical or habitat barriers (such as mountains or intensive farmland) intrude between watersheds. Management of beaver distribution should therefore operate at the watershed scale. The period of rapid population increase, if unchecked, leads to a phase of population decline as marginal habitats are occupied and exhausted. This coincides with a peak in conflicts with human landuse interests. A regulated hunting take of healthy beaver populations is recommended as the optimal management regime in managed landscapes. Early provision of interpretation and public viewing opportunities has been a feature of several recent reintroductions. This provides a benefit to the local economy through wildlife tourism, and helps foster positive attitudes to beavers.

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Section: History and Status Of Beaver Populations By Country Russia mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The total Russian population was estimated in 1983 at 170000 (Lavrov 1983;Nolet & Rosell 1998); in recent years the population is said to have been on the increase (Andreyev et. al.…”

Section: History and Status Of Beaver Populations By Country Russia mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, populations are spreading into Ukraine from Russia and Belarus. The current population is estimated at 12500 (Nolet & Rosell 1998).…”

Section: Ukrainementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The beaver's reconquest of Eurasia: status, population development and management of a conservation success

Halley¹,

2002

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Monitoring, modelling and managing beaver (Castor fiber) populations in the River Otter catchment, Great Britain

Graham

Puttock

Chant

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) were nearly hunted to extinction but have recovered to occupy much of their former range. Beaver were extirpated from Great Britain c. 400 years ago but have recently been reintroduced. The River Otter catchment, Devon was the site of the first licensed wild release of beavers in England. With further releases being considered, there is a need to better understand population dynamics of this native, keystone species to inform conservation and management. Field signs were surveyed from 2015 to 2021. A semi‐automated territory detection method was adopted to estimate territory counts. A spatially explicit model was developed to estimate the ecological territory capacity of the catchment. Future territory expansion was modelled using logistic growth curves; initial growth rate was estimated from observed territory counts and the estimated territory capacity range was used to define the limiting value of the growth curve. Beaver territory removal was simulated, across a range of management intensities and start times, to determine potential impacts of translocation or lethal control upon population dynamics. Territory numbers increased from four to 18, inclusive of four additionally released individuals, during study period. In the absence of population management, the territory capacity of the catchment was estimated to range between 120 and 183; this may be reached between 2028 and 2057. Simulated territory removal, where territories were removed at a fixed rate from the sum of the estimated total population and the population increase for that year, demonstrated large uncertainties in predicted population responses. Simulations with territory removals >3/year all predicted potential population collapse. This finding emphasizes the need for caution when considering population management strategies; translocation of animals out of the catchment or culling should be considered only when populations are established and all alternatives have been considered. These results provide critical information for the expected rate and magnitude of beaver population change in the River Otter catchment. The methods provide a reproducible and generalizable approach for understanding beaver population change, which can inform policy on the reintroduction of beavers and the potential timing and intensity of future beaver population management.

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Quellen‐ und Literaturverzeichnis*

and¹,

Schuhmacher²

2003

Handbuch Der Fließgewässer Norddeutschlands

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Comeback of the beaver Castor fiber: An overview of old and new conservation problems

Cited by 193 publications

References 22 publications

The beaver's reconquest of Eurasia: status, population development and management of a conservation success

The beaver's reconquest of Eurasia: status, population development and management of a conservation success

Monitoring, modelling and managing beaver (Castor fiber) populations in the River Otter catchment, Great Britain

Quellen‐ und Literaturverzeichnis*

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