Scottish Beavers Enhance River Ecosystems

Knapdale in Scotland has successfully reintroduced beavers, and they are now thriving in the River Tay and its tributaries, as well as the River Otter in Devon. By building dams, digging canals, and creating dead wood, beavers act as ecological engineers, enhancing water quality, trapping nutrients, reducing soil erosion, and ameliorating flooding. Their presence also benefits other species, including young salmon, which grow faster in beaver-inhabited areas, and various insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals.