The European beaver causes damage worth millions of crowns a year to water managers from the Morava River Basin. It disrupts dikes, floods land and gnaws on trees. The most affected areas are Břeclav and Znojmo. The spokesman of the state enterprise Petr Chmelař stated this in a press release today. The beaver is a specially protected animal, its habitat can only be interfered with under very strict and clearly defined conditions.
The occurrence of the European beaver is confirmed by the entire area of the Morava river basin, and its numbers are increasing every year. “In general, within our territory, beaver occurs in virtually all parts of the basin – most in the lower Dyje basin, in Moravia from Lanžhot to Šumperk, including tributaries, in Bečva from the confluence with Moravia to Valašské Meziříčí, but also in Svitava and Svratka “We observe its activity even on drainage canals,” said Václav Gargulák, General Director of the Moravia River Basin District.
According to him, water managers currently register more than 100 beaver dikes on small watercourses and hundreds of bitten trees. In localities where the beaver does not cause damage to property and its activity does not endanger human health, water managers monitor the development and do not interfere with its habitat. “However, we also record its activities in built-up areas, where its activities may endanger property or even the health of the population. In these cases, we must proceed according to the applicable legislation, competent regional authority,” said Gargulák.
The most affected are Břeclav and Znojmo. Here, in addition to damaging riparian vegetation and dam construction, the beaver causes significant damage to the protective line dams, according to water managers. It is by damaging the dikes that the beaver can cause damage with great consequences. As a result of the formation of beaver burrows, a flood dam and a flooded area inhabited by humans can occur during floods. “In the Břeclav region, which is one of the most affected areas in terms of beaver activity, we had to strengthen some dams with beaver walls or a stone plain. We try to use mesh or a special anti-bite spray to taste the trees,” Gargulák described.
The damage caused by the beaver to farmers, pond fishermen or to city or municipal property leads to its regulation in some places. She would be welcomed by water managers. “Regarding the regulation of the European beaver, this is a very sensitive issue, as it is a specially protected animal. In some places in the country, it is already regulated on the basis of exceptions. Given that in some places its increased activity leads to to damage protective dikes and other water management assets, the essence of which is to protect the health and lives of the population during floods, we perceive some form of its regulation in some areas as a purposeful and rational step, “said Gargulák.
Source: CTK
