Eurasian Beaver
Castor fiber
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Rodentia · Castoridae
About
The Eurasian beaver or European beaver is a species of beaver widespread across Eurasia, with a rapidly increasing population of at least 1.5 million in 2020. The Eurasian beaver was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum, with only about 1,200 beavers in eight relict populations from France to Mongolia in the early 20th century. It has since been reintroduced into much of its former range and now lives from Western, Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia through China and Mongolia, with about half the population in Russia. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Fun Fact
Eurasian beavers were hunted nearly to extinction for castoreum, a secretion from their scent glands that was used in perfumes and medicine for centuries, with only about 1,200 surviving by 1900.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Rivers, streams, and wetlands
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
10-17 years
Threats
- Invasive Aquatic Species
- Wetland Drainage