Two beavers released into an enclosed site in Dorset

Published 11.2.21

Sick of Groundhog Day?  Have a beaver day instead and check out the eco-superheroes that have finally arrived in Dorset.   At We Have the POWER we have been eagerly awaiting news of their arrival since we first supported the Dorset Wildlife Trust beaver re-introduction programme.  Two beavers are now happily settling into an enclosed site in Dorset.

This isn’t just about the reintroduction of a species – it’s about the reintroduction of an entire ecosystem that’s been lost. Beavers are often referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’. They make changes to their habitats, such as digging canal systems, damming water courses, and coppicing tree and shrub species, which create diverse wetlands that benefit both people and wildlife.   Their flood prevention and water purification services alone would cost vast sums to replicate – and they do it for free!

Watch footage of the moment the male beaver was released into the enclosed site here.

Why beavers are important for Dorset

Beavers are often referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’. They make changes to their habitats, such as digging canal systems, damming water courses, and coppicing tree and shrub species, which create diverse wetlands that benefit both people and wildlife.

• They help to reduce downstream flooding – the channels, dams and wetland habitats that beavers create hold back water and release it more slowly after heavy rain
• They benefit other species, such as otters, water shrews, water voles, birds, invertebrates (especially dragonflies) and breeding fish
• They increase water retention and clean water
• They reduce siltation, which pollutes water

February 2021

See more on the Dorset Wildlife Trust website here