The beaver was considered extinct in Friuli for 500 years. Now the rodents have emigrated from Carinthia to Italy. Beavers are protected in Austria and their population has grown regularly in recent years.
The herbivores have chosen Trentino-South Tyrol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia as their new home. According to a study by the State University of Milan and the Ecosystems Research Institute of the Italian National Research Council (CNR-Iret), large parts of the country appear suitable for beaver stabilization. On the one hand, the rodents are said to be useful in reducing the intensity of flooding. On the other hand, foraging can cause damage to the fields.
Furthermore, the construction of dams and structures would sometimes divert water flow and cause damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges. According to the research team, it is therefore important to closely monitor the areas most at risk and take steps to reduce or at least limit potential damage. The scientists cited beaver-proof fences and draining wetlands as examples.
A building is only evacuated in exceptional cases
In Austria, beavers are protected, which means that they are not allowed to be hunted, for example. The only thing that is allowed is clearing out beaver dens, so that the animal can settle somewhere else. The population in this country is estimated at around 8,800 to 9,000 (as of winter 2020/21). Beavers were originally widespread throughout Austria and were at home in all rivers.
The European beaver has a size of up to 130 centimeters and a weight of up to 30 kilograms. This makes it the largest rodent in Europe. The rodents are mainly nocturnal and live an average of ten years.
Source: Krone
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