looduskalender.ee

Beaver lodge and territory

 

 

Can there be a better name for the beaver in such a season? But people of old have had similar names for it. The largest rodent in Eurasia, and a long-time inhabitant of Estonian nature, almost wiped out in the 18th century. For the pelt, priced as gold, castoreum, and the tasty and filling flesh of a vegetarian, and it was managed with primitive snares, traps and firearms …  

 

Beavers were reintroduced, and they also re-inhabited Estonia on their own from beyond Lake Peipsi, before the 1960’es. Today the population size is believed to be more than 15 000 individuals, although this might be a slightly exaggerated estimate according to researchers.

 

When the tunnels from a beaver lodge built on the shore exit under water  - then it is like a ”heat trap” that prevents the cold outside air from cooling the nest.

 

 Beaver work

This year not much tree felling has been noticeable up to November, shrubs are still being annihilated – some months ago we discussed whether this means an easy winter for beavers. Apologies if things are different somewhere, beaver families have different habits. Twig food is stored for winter; twigs are carried into the lodges, or pushed into the bottom mud of the water body, but as life shows, for variety additional food must be sought in water bodies. Roots of aquatic plants such as yellow and white water lilies and common clubrush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) are used, also roots and rhizomes of bulrushes. They chew on the bark of conifers when the diet becomes very one-sided, or is there some other reason or need?

 

High take

 

When tree trunks freeze smaller branches can be collected without felling the tree, and similarly branches from trees bent down by heavy snow loads. It is not useful at the moment but in winter it is interesting to study the traces of such doings.

 

We will not talk of the problems from the tree fellings and water dammings of beavers, but their activities influence the surrounding nature significantly. The neighbourhood of a beaver lodge is a rich biotope, the beaver dam works as a water purification plant, enriching the water with oxygen. There for instance frog wintering locations collect, and the fish fauna is richer. This in turn attracts otters and minks. Print paths of wolves and lynxes show that they are interested in any careless lodge inhabitants…