Beavers are again proving themselves to be nature's unsung heroes. If you're enjoying freshwater swimming or fishing in Scotland, you might have the hard-working rodents to thank, according to the University of Stirling.
In a new study, a team of scientists revealed the benefits of beaver dams on water at the Bamff Estate over a two-year period. The researchers examined water quality surrounding beaver ponds and dams to measure the animals' impact.
It turns out that beavers in this rural area can remarkably stop almost all pollution that arises from livestock waste and soil erosion. In so doing, the dams slow and diffuse a notorious microbial pollutant, Escherichia coli bacteria, which is associated with illness.
A co-author of the study, professor Nigel Willby, said in the news release that with microbial pollution on the rise "there is an urgent demand for sustainable solutions for prevention and remediation."
Answering the call are beavers, whom Willby says form ponds that "can act as a trap for microbial pollutants and silt … reducing pollutant peaks by 95% and strongly delaying their movement which should be to the benefit of downstream systems."
The renaissance for beavers around the world is noteworthy as we learn more about the array of benefits they provide for their habitats. They were once hunted to near-extinction because their meat, fur, and scent glands were coveted.
Now after a series of concerted efforts, not all of which are authorized, beavers are making their mark around the world.
Recently in the Czech Republic, beavers cut through bureaucratic red tape to not only complete a stalled dam project but also go above and beyond. In Idaho, some banished beavers are credited with building wetlands that protect against wildfires.
It's no wonder there are innovative efforts from a former Google engineer to track beaver activity in California. After Los Angeles' recent devastating wildfires, all remedies are on the table.
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Heck yes! 💯 The United Kingdom has experienced some of the biggest benefits after embracing the return of beavers.
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In the English countryside, beavers have made their local habitats more resilient to drought and flooding. In Scotland, beavers have played a major role in propping up endangered water voles.
Encouragingly, beavers are continually being reintroduced to new areas in the U.K., marking returns to areas after centuries of being away.
When it comes to their impact on the Bamff waterways, Willby said their "work adds weight to the already compelling evidence of the beneficial effects of beaver ponds in the landscape."
For that reason, embracing beavers and their dams is the path Willby wants Scotland to take "to realize these benefits rather than robbing ourselves of them."
"We must find better ways to accommodate beavers in our landscapes rather than continually removing their dams," Willby concluded.
Study leader Hannah White concurred, saying Scotland must "recognise the benefits that beaver-created wetlands can bring for nature and the environment" to achieve its lofty goals as a leader in sustainable and regenerative farming.
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