Did you know that beavers play a vital role in creating and maintaining wetlands, providing a home for countless plant and animal species? Next month, we’ll celebrate the sixteenth International Beaver Day. This day is a chance to recognise beavers as ecosystem engineers and see their environmental impact.
Join us as we dive into the significance of International Beaver Day. We’ll explore how to celebrate, why beavers matter, and share fascinating facts about these remarkable mammals.
What is International Beaver Day?
Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife (BWW) launched International Beaver Day in 2009 to celebrate these extraordinary animals and raise awareness of how they maintain healthy ecosystems.
When is International Beaver Day?
People celebrate International Beaver Day on the 7th of April each year. BWW chose this date to honour Dorothy Richards (1894-1985), an American conservationist who studied beavers for 50 years at her sanctuary, Beaversprite, in New York. The charity continues her important work in beaver conservation today.
Why are beavers so important?
As keystone species, beavers shape and sustain entire ecosystems. Their dam-building activities create wetlands that support many plants and animals, improve water quality, and serve as natural carbon sinks.
Dams reduce erosion and help mitigate droughts. Studies show that beaver ponds can also reduce water flow by 60% during floods, highlighting their crucial role in water management.
By felling older trees along riverbanks to build dams and lodges, beavers make room for new, healthy growth.
Fun and surprising facts about beavers
Beavers are fascinating creatures. We’ve compiled some incredible facts about these industrious mammals:
- They’re the second-largest living rodents, primarily nocturnal, and active throughout the year.
- They can hold their breath underwater for up to 15 minutes.
- Their diet changes with the seasons — they eat woody plants in winter and aquatic plants, shrubs, and grasses in summer.
- A unique flap at the back of their mouths allows them to chew underwater without inhaling water.
- A transparent membrane over their eyes acts like built-in goggles.
- They mark territory using castoreum — a secretion from their scent glands mixed with urine.
- Conservationists have successfully reintroduced Eurasian beavers in the UK after sixteenth-century people hunted them to extinction.
- Their strong, orange teeth contain iron, making them resistant to wear and acid.
- Since their teeth never stop growing, they gnaw on wood regularly to keep them at a manageable length.
- Their sturdy lodges provide a safe winter haven. They have underwater entrances to keep predators away and allow year-round access to food.
- When sensing danger, they slap their tails on the water to warn others and startle potential predators.
How to celebrate International Beaver Day
There are plenty of ways to celebrate International Beaver Day.
Expand your knowledge
Watch a wildlife documentary or read a book about beavers to discover their fascinating behaviours and ecological importance.
Go on a beaver-watching hike
Thanks to reintroduction efforts, you can now spot beavers in the wild across the UK. Visit one of these locations at dawn or dusk for the best chance of seeing them in action.
England
- Cropton Forest, Yorkshire: In April 2019, Forestry England introduced two beavers to the area to aid in reducing local flooding by maintaining existing dams and building new ones. Since then, they’ve grown into a family of eight.
- River Otter, Devon: England’s first official beaver reintroduction site.
- River Tamar catchment, Devon and Cornwall: A thriving wild beaver population.
- River Stour, East Kent: An established wild beaver population, particularly in the upper Great Stour catchment.
- River Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire: Many beavers thrive in the River Avon, particularly near Bath, Chippenham, and Trowbridge.
- Little Dart, North Devon: A known breeding area for wild beavers.
- River Wye, Herefordshire: Beavers successfully breed here.
- Purbeck Heath, Dorset: The National Trust released four beavers in Little Sea in March 2025.
Scotland
- Tay catchment: Home to the largest beaver population in Scotland.
- River Forth catchment: Beavers from the Tay have expanded into this area.
- Knapdale Forest, Argyll: A successful beaver reintroduction site since 2009.
Wales
- The Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve: A family of four beavers lives here in a protected enclosure.
Support a beaver conservation group
Conservation groups play a vital role in beaver protection. Here’s how you can help:
- Donate or fundraise: Many organisations depend on public support for habitat restoration, research, and advocacy.
- Volunteer: Help with habitat restoration, beaver monitoring, or education programmes. If you’re not near a conservation group, offer skills like social media management or fundraising help.
- Spread awareness: Share beaver facts, videos, and articles on social media. Encourage discussions with friends and family, and advocate for policies that support beavers in your community.
Beavers are nature’s engineers, creating environments that benefit entire ecosystems. By celebrating International Beaver Day, we can recognise their contributions and support efforts to protect them and our environment for future generations.
