The Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) is a different species to the North American Beaver. It is the largest rodent in Europe, and is just slightly smaller than it's American cousin.
At the beginning of the 20th century the Beaver population in France was restricted to the Rhône river, and was estimated at no more than a few dozen localised in the lower reaches. In an effort to avoid extinction, in the 1960s until the mid 1980s more than 250 were released in 15 different departments in the Centre, the North-east and in Brittany, all having been taken from the Rhône population.
Since that time the populations have grown slowly, with an expansion in range in some regions. The only river in Poitou Charentes where a reintroduction was attempted was the Creuse in Vienne where 4 beavers were released between 1970 and 1973 but this failed. In the period from 1973 to 1976, 13 beavers were released in the river Loir in Loir-et-Cher, and during 1994-1996 another 13 were released in the river Loir, in the departement of the same name. Both of these releases were successful. From the river Loir the beavers have bred and slowly increased their range and are now found in the rivers Vienne, Creuse, Gartempe, Anglin, Salleron, Clain, Thouet, and Argenton. We think they're also present in the Claise, because Tim has trailcam footage of a beaver in the Aigronne.
A pair of trees felled last year. By the time I took this photo it was raining, and the camera was having issues focusing. It has been passed through ChatGPT.
Anyway. As you can see, the beavers are making their presence felt, in this case in the Creuse at Yzeures.
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