The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is one of only two beaver species globally. This semi-aquatic rodent historically occupied a vast range across Europe and Asia. For centuries, these animals played a significant role in shaping the ecosystems of their native lands.
Current Geographic Range
Today, the Eurasian beaver is widespread across much of its historical territory, with a rapidly increasing population. In 2020, their estimated population reached at least 1.5 million individuals across Eurasia. Approximately half of this population resides within Russia.
The beaver’s distribution extends throughout almost all countries in continental Europe, from Spain and France in the west to Russia and Moldova in the east. Stable populations are found across Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, including Germany, Poland, and Belarus. In Asia, populations exist in West and Central Siberia, with smaller, more fragmented groups in regions like Mongolia and China. While their range is extensive, it often remains fragmented in many areas.
Recent reintroduction efforts have also brought beavers back to the United Kingdom, with wild populations now established in parts of England and Scotland. However, the species is not currently known to be present in Portugal, Italy, or the southern Balkans.
Preferred Aquatic Environments
Eurasian beavers rely on specific aquatic environments. They inhabit freshwater systems like slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. These habitats support their semi-aquatic lifestyle. Beavers prefer water bodies that are slow-moving or still, ideally with stable depths of at least 60 centimeters.
Abundant riparian vegetation is important for beaver habitat. Trees and shrubs along the banks provide food sources and materials for building structures. Beavers burrow into stable riverbanks for dens or construct lodges from wood and soil. If water is too fast or shallow, beavers build dams to create deeper, calmer conditions, extending access to foraging areas and ensuring submerged entrances to their homes.
Return to Former Territories
Historically, Eurasian beaver populations declined due to hunting and habitat destruction. They were targeted for their fur, meat, and castoreum. By the early 20th century, only about 1,200 individuals remained in eight isolated populations across their former range.
Conservation and reintroduction efforts began in the 1920s. These programs involved translocating beavers from existing populations to areas where they had been extirpated. Such initiatives, including translocations from Norway to Sweden and Bavaria to the Balkans, have gradually restored the species to much of its former territory. This led to the Eurasian beaver being assessed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN in 2008.