Beaver habitat

Description:

De Doode Bemde is a biological reserve just at the doors of my hometown. Although elusive to photograph we have been observing quite some evidence of the reappearance of beavers in this area. Beavers were extinct here, as in many other parts of Europe and the world, but recent efforst have finally paid off to reintroduce this beautiful animals back into our ecosystem. Popular thought had it that these animals were damaging environment but this in fact cannot be more far from the truth. Beaver acitivity is keeping waterside vegetation levels down, creating open spaces where other mammals and birds can live. Their channels and dams act as buffers against the effects of flash floods. They are good for the ecosystem and evidence of their existence is now highly welcome in natural spaces of Belgium.