Biber boost in the Rems-Murr district: biodiversity or flooding?

Biber boost in the Rems-Murr district: biodiversity or flooding?

In the Rems-Murr district, the beaver population is booming, but that has its dark side! Where the furry builders spread, there are often conflicts with agriculture. Through floods and gnawed trees, trained consultants must now find solutions to reconcile humans and animals. Around 80 volunteer beaver consultants recently gathered in Großenlach to discuss opportunities and challenges of the growing beaver population. The animals have just been referred to as "engineers of the ecosystem", because their dams and castles create new habitats, but conflicts are also associated with water.

The beaver population in Baden-Württemberg is estimated at around 1,000, and around 50 copies currently live in the Rems-Murr district. Almost eight beaver consultants are active on site, but their use could increase soon. "We have a large toolbox to solve conflicts," explains Niels Hahn, beaver representative at the Stuttgart regional council. The consultants offer helpful measures to minimize damage, such as special protective measures for trees or drainage to avoid water damage. The beavers are strictly protected, but solutions cannot always be found, which sometimes leads to unpleasant removals for the animals that have to rebuild their dams. Further information on this provides www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de .