The beaver is on the loose again: you can currently find traces of Europe’s largest rodent on the Vienna Danube Canal. Several trees have been gnawed along the bank and some have already been felled. One reader even reports a surprising nocturnal encounter with one of the rodents.
In the summer, the animals usually fill their bellies with grass, herbs and aquatic plants. However, because these can hardly be found in the colder months, tree bark is mainly on the menu of the rodents.
There is potential danger in gnawed trunks
After being resettled in the late 1970s, the beaver gradually reclaimed its old territories in Vienna – including along the Danube Canal. But where wild animals and people (in an emergency) meet, things can sometimes get tricky. In the worst case, gnawing on trees can become a danger, for example if the trunk does not fall towards the water.
A large number of damaged or already fallen trees can currently be found on the Danube Canal. Various questions from krone.at to MA 49 (responsible for forestry and agriculture, among others) to assess the situation have so far remained unanswered. At least some trees were protected from beaver teeth by attaching chain links.
Beaver up close
Recently a cyclist was able to experience how close you can get to the imposing rodent. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he walked along the Danube Canal at night.
What he initially thought was a dog turned out to be a stately beaver nestled by the side of the road. “He seemed quite calm, so he should already be used to human contact,” the cyclist told krone.at.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
