European beaver (Castor fiber) in open agricultural landscapes: crop grazing and the potential for economic damage

0535582 - ÚBO 2021 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Mikulka, O. - Homolka, Miloslav - Drimaj, J. - Kamler, J.
European beaver (Castor fiber) in open agricultural landscapes: crop grazing and the potential for economic damage.
European Journal of Wildlife Research. Roč. 66, č. 6 (2020), č. článku 101. ISSN 1612-4642. E-ISSN 1439-0574
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Beaver * Damage * Diet * Field crops * GIS
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 1.983, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-020-01442-6

The European beaver (Castor fiber) has extended its range into most Central European countries over the past 30 years, resulting in increased forestry damage and water management issues. As the number of beavers increases populations become established in new types of habitat. In the Czech Republic, for example, established beaver populations are now found on rivers flowing through agricultural landscapes, where living conditions differ significantly to those found in forest landscapes. To date, there have been no studies on the impact of beavers on agricultural production. The aim of this study was (1) to describe how beavers graze field crops, and (2) to estimate potential damage to agricultural production. This 2-year study examined five beaver territories in agricultural landscapes where crops were separated from watercourses by a narrow strip of bank vegetation. Beavers fed on all crop types grown in their territories throughout the growing period (May–October), peaking from mid-June to mid-July. The beavers clearly preferred oilseed rape, which (along with wheat and barley) represented the largest part of the grazed area. Rape was usually grazed at during vegetation growth and flowering, while cereals were usually grazed from the milk ripe kernel stage to harvest. Damage to agricultural production was up to €20–30 per ind./year. While beaver population density in the agricultural landscape remains low, damage to agricultural production is relatively insignificant, however, field crops clearly represent an important part of the beavers’ diet in such areas, helping them survive in such open landscapes.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0313568