Beavers are impressive ecological engineers and a keystone species for wetland environments. But in the UK, it’s been nearly 400 years since beavers were regularly found in the wild. In the meantime, Victorian engineering sensibilities drastically altered the landscape to quickly drain rainwater from upstream locations, which unfortunately increases flooding dangers downstream.
But all of that is changing with the reintroduction of wild beavers in a Cornwall experiment. Within their 5 acres, the beavers are transforming the landscape by deepening ponds and slowing water drainage. Their dams create ideal habitat spaces not only for the beavers but for many other species of mammals, birds, and insects. Check out the full interview to learn more and see this previous post for a similar effort in the Western U.S. (Video and image credit: BBC Earth)