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cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/14368537
Residents and visitors to Canterbury have been treated to the unusual sight of baby beavers swimming in the River Stour.
The babies, called kits, are thought to be the first to be born in a wild urban setting in England for centuries.
The semi-aquatic rodents are known as a keystone species because of the enormous impact they have on the wildlife around them.
Sandra King, chief executive officer of the Beaver Trust, said: “It’s so exciting to see them here.”
Urban beavers are very cute. Everyone loves them until they start eating all the trees, or causing floods. Then you have to decide how much you want to spend wrapping all the trees in a neighbourhood wire mesh to prevent them from snacking. We have urban beavers (in Winnipeg) and we’ve largely decided to tolerate them.
Most evidence shows that beaver damns reduce flooding
Depends on where they are. Dam a creek running through a town and see :)
All depends on where you are relative to the dam. If they build one on the creek behind your house and it floods half your yard, you’re probably going to feel a lot different about it.
Wild beavers prevent flooding, urban beavers cause flooding.
Wild beavers create wetlands and marshes and ponds which create storage for stormwater.
Urban/rural beavers block ditches and creeks which overflow into roads and yards and farm fields.