Beaver

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is one of Europe’s most iconic and influential native species. Once nearly extinct across much of its range, this ecosystem engineer has made a remarkable comeback in recent decades, thanks to legal protection and reintroduction efforts. Through dam-building and wetland creation, beavers play a vital role in its ecosystem, restoring rivers, reducing flooding, boosting biodiversity, and improving water quality. 

Explore these pages to learn more about beaver biology, behaviour (constructions), habitat, and protection and legislation across Europe.

Local knowledge

Beavers are full of surprises—flexible, adaptable, and endlessly resourceful. Their behaviour can vary widely between regions, depending on climate, water availability, and human presence.

Explore more about beavers across European countries through local websites and our library. On our learning more page you can find a list of local websites by country.