Beaver benefits in danger: destruction of a dam at Raubling!

Beaver benefits in danger: destruction of a dam at Raubling!

Raubling, Deutschland - An incident at Raubling has directed the public's interest in the protection of beavers and their habitats. The dam on the upper Tännelbach in the Kollerfilze, which protected a Biberburg, was illegally removed. Removing such a dam represents a criminal offense that can be punished with high money or prison terms, reports OVB online .

The beaver has a long history in Bavaria: he lived in the region 15 million years ago, but was exterminated in 1867. Since its resettlement in 1967 with 120 animals, the population in Bavaria has developed on around 22,000 beavers in around 6,000 areas. There is a stable beaver population in the district of Rosenheim, while the animals increasingly penetrate areas used in agriculture and forestry.

beaver management and legal framework conditions

In order to minimize conflicts between humans and beavers, various measures are taken. Around 250 cases of beaver damage are conveyed each year, which are mainly caused by felled trees, eaten crops or blocked passports. The Free State of Bavaria has been making voluntary compensation payments for beaver damage of 660,000 euros per year since 2021, while the district of Rosenheim pays minor damage up to 150 euros per case itself. The district is investing around 20,000 euros annually on prevention materials.

The installation of dam drainage is promoted to protect the beaver's habitat. The killing of beavers is only allowed in extreme cases with an exemption. In 2023, 46 legal withdrawals of beavers took place in the Rosenheim district. Nevertheless, illegal interventions in the environment of the protected beaver remain a problem.

Significant legal information on the protection of the beaver and the measures to minimize damage are defined in the beaver management of the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection. According to an announcement of November 25, 2020, most recently changed on June 7, 2023, the program aims to secure the favorable state of conservation of the beaver and minimize damage-related conflicts, such as Laws Bavaria explained.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien