For about an hour and a half every morning and night for two days observations are carried out, and the date, time and location are recorded every time a beaver is seen. Approximately 30 volunteer observers meet and every observer is assigned an observation spot. Twice a year in April and October an attempt to estimate the population size in Klosterheden takes place. Monitoring of the beavers in Denmark include recording of the visible signs of beaver activity in all recognised territories and also by searching the water system for new signs of activity from a canoe or by foot. As most scent mounds occur near the den or at territory boundaries it is possible to determine the approximate size on a territory on the occurrence of scent mounds. The main function of scent marking is the maintaining of territorial rights. In Klosterheden State Forest the highest beaver dam measures 1,2 metres and the longest meassures 74 metres.īeavers scent mark by depositing a secretion (castoreum) on scent mounds, which are piles made of mud, debris and plant material scraped together by the beaver. Dams are often built in the core area of the territory. In this way beavers have access to food even in severe winters where the water freezes over.īeavers build dams to ensure that the water level always covers the entrance of the den and to facilitate the transportation of both building material and food items. These are big gatherings of branches secured to the bottom of the lake or stream in front of the beaver den. In late autumn some beavers make food caches. Short trails lead from the water to foraging sites and tree stumps resulting from beaver felling project from the ground. ![]() Fortunately the beavers’ way of living ensures that their presence is confirmed by a lot of visible evidence such as de-barked branches, dams and scent mounds.Īs beaver forage on branches they de-bark them and often leave the branches behind at the waters’ edge but some are used as dam-building material. The beaver is nocturnal and therefore observing the animals is a difficult task. The beavers have dispersed to areas more than 15 kilometres down stream from the release sites and the private land owners have accepted the presence of beavers on their property. Now - four years later - observations have shown that the population has grown to at least 51 individuals in 13 territories. Beavers captured within one particular beaver territory in Germany were released at the same release-site in Denmark. The eighteen beavers released included 12 adults, 4 juveniles and 2 kits less than one year old. At several places within the State Forest the streams have been artificially dammed and small lakes and ponds created. Small streams run in the valleys and non-coniferous trees growing in these valleys are mainly willow ( Salix sp.), birch ( Betula pubenscens and Betula pendula )and bug myrtle ( Myrica gale ). Klosterheden State Forest is approximately 7000 hectares of 90% coniferous forest and 10% broad-leaved species planted on former heath land. By cutting down trees clearings are made which allow for the growth of light-demanding plant species and by building dams beavers flood areas creating new habitats for many species of insects, amphibians and birds. ![]() One of the main reasons for reintroducing the beaver was because of its ability to create dynamics in its surroundings. Large areas in the country have been drained due to intense agricultural use and forestry. Eighteen beavers captured in Germany were released at six different sites within Klosterheden State Forest in the northwestern part of Denmark. The beaver was absent from Denmark for more than one thousand years before the species was reintroduced in October 1999.
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