What are dams?

Dams are made out of branches and small tree trunks. Beavers build dams so that they have a safe pond where they can build their beaver lodge. A beaver lodge is built out of twigs, sticks, rocks, and mud, and has an underwater entrance. So that means that dams are not build for the beavers to live in.

What beavers look like.

Beavers have brown fur, a flat, broad tail and huge orange teeth. One of the largest members of the rodent family, beavers can weigh as much as 30kg and measure well over a meter from head to tail.

Pros

Beaver dams enhance their environment by: Providing habitat for many sensitive plant and animal species and improving water quality. They also bring life to the river.

Cons

Beavers may cut down/eat all the trees. Beavers might also eat all of the plants until there is none left. This can  cause there to be hardly any wildlife left.

In this recent news story in the Glasgow Herald, here, Trees for Life have taken Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) to court over their authorisation for the killing of beavers which are protected by law and should only be killed as a last resort. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is also opposed to NatureScot's actions, saying they could have been moved rather than killed.

How about putting the beavers in the River Leven?

In this recent news story, found here, they say that even though 2020 was not good for us, it has been good for beavers. This article also brushes up on why some people don't like beavers, and how 2020 has impacted their lives.