Biber plague in Upper Austria: Looking for damage and solution for farmers!

Biber plague in Upper Austria: Looking for damage and solution for farmers!

Saxen, Österreich - In the municipality of Saxen in the district of Perg, the reports of damage caused by beavers are increasing. The farmer Christian Lang describes the situation alarming: "We had to remove all the trees because the danger potential is simply too high." Four years ago there were still many pastures on the pond that have now disappeared. The beavers continue to penetrate, and the risk that their buildings will collapse along the bank. Lang warns: "You often don't see these caves weak until you run into and fall." According to Rosemarie Ferstl, Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture, the beavers are now widespread in Upper Austria. It calls for a targeted action by the authorities, since the current stocks are estimated to be over 2500 and thus increase the previous damage.

beaver under the sustainability magnifier

The country's nature conservation department indicates that the beaver is strictly protected and can only be removed in exceptional cases. Nevertheless, agriculture increasingly comes from demands for regulations. Experts also emphasize that the disadvantages are often exaggerated. It turns out that Biber does not have the same influence on forest economy as other human interventions. In contrast to the current forest use, which do millions of trees annually, the proportion of trees felled by beavers is just 0.12% of the entire forestry. These figures make it clear that the food intake of the beavers is often overestimated, especially when it turns out that they mainly use economically unattractive tree species such as pastures that have a high level of regeneration.

The concern for the beavers also offers a new perspective on forestry: While many trees that are felled by beavers soon grow back again, areas are irrevocably lost due to human activities. If the number of beavers is explained, this is not only important for farmers, but also for natural habitats. At a time when nature conservation is a central topic, most of the beaver activity proves to be positive for growing tree species and the promotion of natural water structures. Although the damage caused by beavers in Upper Austria, their role in ecology could have far more advantages than is generally assumed, which could also heat the discussion about their regulation and protection. For further information about the beaver population in Germany and its ecological effects, see Bibermanagement.de and orf.at .