18 votes

An underground network of environmentalists are beaver bombing local rivers in some countries in Europe

Posted by boxer_dogs_dance
Tags: beavers, rewilding, wildlife, ecosystems, rivers, environmentalism, europe, author.kendall burke, source.thecooldown
https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/what-is-beaver-bombing-rewilding-ecosystems/

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Authors
Kendall Burke
Published
Aug 22 2023
Word count
445 words

4 comments

  1. [4]
    Wes
    (edited )
    Link
    Well that article ended suddenly. I'm far from an ecologist, but I know beavers can have harmful effects on certain waters. Slowing the stream may impede the movement of fish, allow mosquitos to...

    Well that article ended suddenly.

    I'm far from an ecologist, but I know beavers can have harmful effects on certain waters. Slowing the stream may impede the movement of fish, allow mosquitos to breed, and give predators more opportunities. Of course, reducing water downstream may have other knock-on effects too.

    It seems like there's good reason to perform long ecological studies before doing something like reintroducing beavers to a river.

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      I know I have read that in North America, reintroducing beaver leads to more wetlands and less fire danger. However, Europe is different. I just thought this was noteworthy.

      I know I have read that in North America, reintroducing beaver leads to more wetlands and less fire danger. However, Europe is different. I just thought this was noteworthy.

      9 votes
      1. cardboard
        Link Parent
        Europe at one point was covered in beavers as well. They were just wiped off the face of the continent a lot earlier so you don't have the same evidence. I'll promote the book Beaverleand, how one...

        Europe at one point was covered in beavers as well. They were just wiped off the face of the continent a lot earlier so you don't have the same evidence. I'll promote the book Beaverleand, how one strange rodent made America again if anyone wants to see how amazing beavers are. It's like reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone, the entire ecological web gets stronger. I LOVE BEAVERS.

        5 votes
    2. MimicSquid
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Water isn't reduced downstream in any sort of consistent way. It slows the flow of water for a short while as the beaver builds its dam, but unless the soil is so parched that the surrounding...

      Water isn't reduced downstream in any sort of consistent way. It slows the flow of water for a short while as the beaver builds its dam, but unless the soil is so parched that the surrounding groundwater basin could absorb significant volumes, the water will keep going after a short stay in the wetlands.

      9 votes