Eurasian beaver

About

The Eurasian beaver is the largest rodent in Europe and a remarkable builder. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was nearly exterminated, but thanks to protection and relocation, beavers have returned to the rivers of many countries, including Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. In Zakarpattia, beavers arrived relatively recently, and according to scientists from Uzhhorod University, they have spread here very quickly. Today, they are recorded, in particular, on the Tysa and Borzhava rivers.

The Eurasian beaver is easily recognizable by its flat, scaly paddle-shaped tail, webbed feet, and large orange incisors. Its fur is dense, brown, and water-resistant.

The Eurasian beaver lives in families. It gnaws on trees near the water—willow, poplar, alder—and eats bark, branches, and aquatic and riparian plants. On small rivers, it builds dams to raise the water level and arranges its home in burrows in the bank or in 'lodges' made of branches and mud. The young are born in spring.

The best time to see a beaver is at dusk when it swims with only its head above water. During the day, it can be identified by gnawed stumps, sharpened like pencils, tree trunks with characteristic tooth marks, trails leading to the water, and dams.

The Eurasian beaver is not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. In the EU, the species is included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Slovakia · Austria · Poland · Romania · Czechia · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Krasna Polonyna, Chornohora, Svydovets, Maramureș Mountains, Polonynian Ridge, Pieniny, White Carpathians, High Tatras, Żywiec Beskids, Levoča Mountains

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ