A few years back, it was reported that MIT had begun working on wetsuits modeled after otters. It’s actually a brilliant idea if you think about it. The animals’ fur and the oil from their skin keep them relatively dry and remarkably warm in frigid temperatures. Surfers and divers could benefit greatly from the suits. […]
Tag: Beaver
From brown bears to grey wolves, Europe’s persecuted carnivores are bouncing back
In the latest of what can often seem like the “final nails in the coffin” of biodiversity across Europe, we heard in recent weeks that UK environmental protection is under threat. But while the global scale of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss remain alarming, vital new research, which I helped lead, shows there are […]
Beavers can help Britain fight the climate crisis – if we welcome them back
On Saturday 1 October, something remarkable happened. The Eurasian beaver was officially recognised as both a “native” and a “protected” species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. In England, that means it is now illegal to deliberately kill, injure, or capture the world’s second largest rodent, or disturb their dams, lodges or […]
Back from the brink: how bison, bears and beavers returned to Europe
Top predators are making a comeback across Europe, according to a new report compiled by the Zoological Society of London, BirdLife International and the European Bird Census Council for Rewilding Europe. These are some of the top species making an “exciting” recovery: Eurasian beaver Beavers started to decline in the 17th century with the introduction […]
Farmers in England to be allowed to use ‘lethal force’ on beavers
Farmers in England will be allowed to shoot beavers if they threaten their crops, the government has revealed. Conservationists have opposed the move, saying the animals are an “ally to farmers”, helping conserve water in times of drought, and are an endangered species that should be treasured. The rodents became extinct in the UK 400 […]
How Scientists Are Using Beavers to Help Fight Climate Change
Researchers in California and Utah have found that dams made by beavers can help create drought and fire-resistant landscapes. With nearly half of the country experiencing drought, it’s time we take a look at these magnificent creatures and how the largest rodent in North America may be able to help us. According to research by […]
‘You can’t control what beavers do or how they do it!’ Could rewilding help England fight droughts?
In the midst of the UK’s worst drought in living memory, a host of unfamiliar experiences assault our senses in a Devon valley. Before us is a field of lush green grass. To one side is a bush of blackberries swollen huge by perfect growing conditions. Squelch, squelch go our feet through the grass. There’s […]
South Carolina County Encourages Citizens to Kill Beavers and Bring in Their Front Paws for Compensation
A county in South Carolina is encouraging citizens to kill beavers and cut off their paws in their natural habitat to ‘stop flooding in the area.’ The County is even incentivizing citizens to cut off the animals’ front paws, which they can exchange for payment of $100. The Horry County Stormwater Department’s Beaver Bounty program […]