Beavers bring wetlands back to the UK | WILD HOPE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ส.ค. 2023
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The surprise return of beavers to the British countryside brings benefits and controversy for humans and wildlife alike. The work of these famously busy rodents increases local biodiversity, reduces storm-induced flooding, and restores wilderness to a highly manicured landscape. It also injects some chaos into the lives of the beavers’ human neighbors. Can the British beavers regain their former glory as powerful ecosystem engineers, or is their new home too domesticated to return to the wild?
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I can hear the Beavers saying " Finally, you let us engineers back to fix your silly landscapes! Its about time!
🎯💯
❤😂❤ yes!
Yep and I object to calling it chaos no it the planing being done right.
As a 73 year old, I very much appreciate the enthusiasm and good work these young people and scientists are doing to repair the damage we have done over the centuries. They are making a great contribution to working out ways we can restore nature and live with climate change. I hope city dwellers learn to value this. There is more to life than left and right wing politics important though these other causes are.
Yeah it's a shame, the people that seem to complain about beavers most are 40-60 year old doo gooder types, I'm mid 20s I love the idea of this, to me beavers are kinda just an anti establishment symbol in the best way, on behalf of nature. If you can you should visit the seal sanctuary in Cornwall, they have beavers and you can see how amazing the landscape they created, it doesn't even look like it's in the UK as we know it's really awesome
@@2sik_UK before we blame boomers (that is fashionable to do and in your case blaming GenXers too) many in this video are in fact boomers and GenXers doing the good work.
@@FeelItRising I don't even know what those generations are thb I don't plan on learning
@@2sik_UK I shall visit!
@@FeelItRisingI’m not seeing a single 60-80 year old person on here
Seriously, with the low crop prices we get per acre these days, you could set up a single little hut that lets people observe the beavers and rent it out for a couple times and you would cover whatever loss of production the farmer suffered.
I would call it: AirBnBeaver.
😂 💯. I would be a customer! If you wanted to make even more money, create a TH-cam channel for AirBnBeaver with live beavercam inside and outside the lodge. Could be good for an extra hundred thousand pounds a year. ;)
People would pay to visit for sure. Regenerative farming, agroforestry another option for food production.
I thought the same :-) And let school children visit too.
Knepp are doing exactly that
The beavers snoring in their lodge is the cutest thing, I can't handle it!
Wetlands are Britains identity. The lush marsh, the beautiful woodlands. Beavers are amazing
welcome home old freind we missed you in england
Here as well in Texas US, it took 5000 years but beavers have returned to Lubbock TX. go beavers
5,000 years?
@@the5THofNOV Might be a typo but there actually is no standard native behavior or culture there languages and cultures vary wildly and Empires and Civilizations grew and fell and warred and modified the environment well before the later Europeans came, the Eastern part of North American Natives actually had and have a large amount of European DNA from over 10,000 years ago.
And thus perhaps one tribal group hunted them to extinction or local area environment for a bit became beaver hostile. And the environment there is semi desert now. So it quite possible the local beavers were gone long ago or again it was a typo. The Buffalo made the areas the plans above Texas and kept the trees away and that might include that area of Texas. The Great Planes were treeless a huge part of the middle of the country hostile to beaver.
But now that humans are there and the massive buffalo herds gone humans planted trees to protect soil for farms and to look nice. And you need trees for the beaver.
North America had tons of beaver but that the wooded parts.
Beaver, evolving for at least 2 million years, having influenced our landscape possibly more we can ever imagine.
Humans, "hmm let's see if we can allow them back into the mess we created".
❤❤❤❤ brilliant ❤❤❤ well said
From Kenya, I say you go Brits Lets conserve all our fellow living things and let us accept help from our fellow living things. I wish it was as easy here, but you have lost much more than us please bring them back and nurture what you have left by all means. If not for our children then for all those species sake because they deserve it. Thank you all who are fighting for the beavers and their wet land ecosystems.
I live in the UK, and I hope that in my lifetime it becomes common to see hedgehogs, beavers, pond turtles, bison, water voles, wolves, lynxes and bears etc in the British countryside, the way it's meant to be. I remember when it was common to see hedgehogs only 15 years ago, but now they're rare. We can never take nature for granted again. We need it back.
What wildlife have you lost in Kenya? Wildlife is one of the first things I think most people think of when they think of Kenya, with the Serengeti and everything. I know there's desertification and poaching going on. What's been lost from the ecosystem there and what can we do to help bring it back?
@@Weirdisjustabrownandyellowword Though there have been many challenges we still have most of our Fauna even if some of them are endangered already. The Kenya Wild life services have been fighting hard against the poachers and the traffickers of Ivory, Rhino horns and other trophies, the government has been so careful with this struggle that it burns all tusks and horns that it confiscated from the criminals and those that they take from the animals that die naturally so as to ensure zero tolerance to such trade. The rhinos themselves have two bodyguards at all times whenever they go esp in the wild coz they are very endangered. In fact one of the species of the rhinos the northern white rhino is going extinct as we speak the last alive being incapable of breeding as they are old and female the last male just recently kicked it.
encroachment on the animal habitat especially by over development of the spaces we shared before. This include, roads, railways, towns and esp farms. There is no easy way of solving this problem since most of the affected species are not the big five or other big animals that thrive in the national park and other reserves but the small ones that hardly anyone thinks about such as squirrels, small monkeys some birds and many more.
At the moment the best you can do in my opinion is to communicate and bring about the awareness of the harmful trade in trophies of all kind and fight big game hunting tourism because even if we do our best here in kenya, there are countries that engaged in this business here in Africa and around the world. The biggest trophy takers are western while the asians take mostly ivory and rhino horns. Also fences. that just my thing but I have come to hate them very much as I have watched them harm animals both domestic and wild very much.
The Serengeti is in Tanzania😂😂@@Weirdisjustabrownandyellowword
As a Canadian, I support the introduction of beavers 🦫 🇨🇦
I hope more farmers expand their minds like the fellow on the video. so what if a farm loses an acre here or there it probably was not greatly productive anyway. The waterlands will protect from flooding lower down the valley. Perhaps farmers and insurance companies who previously had to come up with millions of pounds compensation flood payouts could strike a deal over beaver dam loss to agriculture.
First the river needs to be cleaned from toxins and plastic after beavers would be introduced to the rivers.. just suggestions
Farmers are the biggest snowflakes in the world. They will never ever change their minds
Many farms would find it difficult to give up an acre, but letting trees and hedges grow bigger, would save money in routine flailing and still help enormously. Grazers could feed and even self medicate from hedges, save even more money.
As a Brit I cannot wait to see what they can do when reintroduced, I hike a lot so to see the landscape change and become more diverse and welcoming to other species to thrive in the most natural way possible is inspiring.
Time to get damming my furry friends
As I said above, I suspect that U.K. farmers will not be so welcoming of animals that flood their fields. Beaver dams do that.
@@minerran when reintroduced we have commissions in the UK that will monitor their reintroduction into specific areas in need of water and wildlife diversification which typically avoid privately owned agricultural land.
I also don't automatically agree with farmers as not all of them have the best interests of the land they temporarily occupy simply how much money they can make regardless of the long term environmental impact on an area.
As human beings on this spinning rock in space we can't always bend to the will of capitalism over nature as in the long term the consequences could be dire
Honestly, as an American, I had no idea that the UK ever had Beavers! Am floored. I didn't know! 😂
@@rachelkristine4669 - I NEVER knew that either I only thought they were in North America 🌎 🇺🇸
Im more concerned about how it will effect other wildlife that have settled in those areas(that are potentially/probably gonna get flooded)
If its desperately needed then sure, but if its just to reintroduce a species...
It would cost us so much money to replicate a pond ecosystem that gorgeous and useful and these beavers are just doing it for free. Let the beavers do the heavy lifting and humans can simply manage the beavers and everyone comes out ahead.
I think this would also create a lot of new jobs. Imagine every region having their own beaver rangers. Where I live beavers have been steadily increasing in numbers for years. It's awesome. There are always people worried about the damage to farmland they might cause. If you let them roam unregulated, that's a valid concern. But if you, like they mentioned in the video, manage them by relocating some in overpopulated areas and by altering some of the damns, they are actually damn good at increasing the quality of the farmland close to them. Like they said, water even during dry periods. They basically more than pay for themselves and the jobs they create also strengthen the economy. More than some politicians achieve, the Beavers definitely get my next vote.
well said!
@@Jasmine-ez5td Thank you!
In Canada they can cause problems for farmers but as long as you keep the population in check and knock it down when they start causing problems then it isn't a bug deal really
Beavers are So Important for Healthy Rivers, Streams, Wetlands and Planet Earth itself!! Save and Protect Beavers!!
The ponds and meadowlands the beavers create act as firebreaks, where open streams are not wide enough to do that function. If you've ever squelched your way across a meadow, it's quite clear why nothing there will burn! On the margins of the meadows, trees grow quite a bit faster because of the consistent ground water level.
one of the most incredible short documentaries ive watched. the reintroduction perfectly showcases how important keystone species are to their environments and i can only hope more rewilding/restoration projects like this are enacted across the world.
Check out bison in Kent and Knepp estate Sussex
Beavers are like "ee what you caused... let us fix this."
In Europe they use large diameter pipes with cages on both ends.
It allows water to go over the top of Beaver dams via the pipe this keeps the dam levels constant. The cages prevent Beavers getting into the pipes. Win win.
As for trees..how many of these farm lands were once forests? How many chemical fertilisers have farmers used to the detriment of land and water.
Spot on! The worst damage done has been done by humans. We need beavers back to repair the damage we've caused over the last 4 centuries.
We are very fortunate to live on a lake along the Mississippi river. We have two bever dams, so we can sometimes see them working away. They are fascinating little creatures, and it turns out that they can be very beneficial as well.
They’re so cute sleeping
We the people via our Govt etc might need to purchase flood prone land etc to allow the Beaver to do the restoration work in order to reduce flooding etc and restore our bio diversity. Great video thanks.
Most sensible comment thus far. You should lobby your government.
Is there any reasonable debate that someone could have against beavers?? They help this world more than most people even know!!!
None at all!! Unfortunately, humans are not renowned for common sense when money and greed comes into play. We desperately need beavers.
Not gonna lie: when I saw the title, I thought this was going to be a documentary about giardia - a protozoic parasite that is carried in the digestive tracts of beavers (and other animals). The gastrointestinal issues they cause are referred to colloquially as "beaver fever" here in Canada - despite not having a fever associated with the infection.
Nevertheless, we clearly love our Canadian beavers. The hat trade did massive damage to them here, and all but wiped them out in Europe. It's so good to see them returning to their home range on your side of the pond!
I thought of when UK was invaded by the Romans and it was described as a foul malaria ridden swamp and they couldn't leave quick enough 😂.
As an elderly tree hugger I applaud the rewilding but there's always a downside hence the bogs were drained in the first place. 😉
@user-yv9vz5wr7b I should have said "thumbnail caption" rather than "title."
@@becmckinlay5073 They were drained for farm land often by people desperate to have some land. As it flood land not exactly the best land.
Nothing is worse than being high and dry during a drought year.
Great to see. As an Aussie: England always feels so very tame. Too tamed!
But hey....Aussie has its own problems! You guys have lost an enormous amount of animals to near extinction. Mining and mineral companies seem to have the upper hand there. 😮
@@GloryDaze73 So very true! We have lost way to much.
@@GloryDaze73so true. In my 60 year lifetime I have seen such devastating changes in this country due to habitat loss for cattle grazing, cropping and the ever growing urban sprawl. Koalas and other iconic species once common have become endangered. I would never have imagined this when I was 30 years old. But here we are. I see our remnant bushland or native forests being cleared and our natural wetlands filled in for housing developments. Low lying flood prone areas for housing, how stupid are we? Local councils approve these developments in support of their developer mates. There are massive loopholes in the legislation that is supposed to protect our remnant forests and wetlands. This enables these unscrupulous councils to develop at any cost. Yes Australia is facing its biggest biodiversity crisis yet. But we humans seem insatiable in our quest for more and more. There is plenty of lip service to biodiversity conservation in Australia but that is where it stops. Simply talk.
I love seeing short videos like this, gives me a little hope during these seeming dark nights we all are experiencing at present...✌️💛
Check out bison, wild boar and Exmoor ponies, longhorn cattle in Kent, Knepp estate in Sussex. Wild cat in Scotland Many people are trying hard in many areas. We all need to pull together. Wild up even small areas in gardens will help. Ban plastic grass and plant up hedges everywhere. Opening up canals and removing dams yet more fantastic restoration work for salmon etc
There is a reason why the US protected before we almost killed them off. I think the world as a whole needs to reconsider how we and nature are going to live in harmony together. More and more we are discovering that the things in nature we got rid of long term we really needed.
beavers are such important animals and i hope people will love and protect them as much as i do❤❤
What do you do to protect them? Or are you only making a random comment simply bc you like them? That’s how it comes across.. don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly feel that they’re good for the environment/ ecosystem & create wetlands that allow many animals and plant life to thrive and survive and they definitely do a lot of good .. yes , they can create issues , but as long as things are in balance , that’s where things thrive and remain positive … I happen to think beavers are cool animals, I’ve never seen from my point of view , anything about them that made me have any negative opinions whatsoever about them , I love watching documentaries on beavers , I love the sounds they make when they’re kits , the work ethic attributed to a beaver is a nice one lol , they’re just overall really fascinating animals, that I’d agree with you on 😂… But do you ever hear those people who simply throw out words like oh we must protect such n such at all costs , bc they just throw those words out , yet they do nothing other then think something they’re referring to is cute or amusing
Somehow? Not that you’re one of those , 😂 it just did have that element to it , as like I said , when you’re talking about wanting other people to love and protect something as much as / or just as you do , just curious do you actually do a thing to actually protect these animals or are you throwing words out ,
Just casually saying that? And not to be rude or negative or mean in my asking that, I genuinely was wanting to know.. and if you do take steps to protect these animals, I respect that, that’s cool .. what type of steps does that include ,‘I’d wanna know just out of curiosity & not asking in some sense of like expecting you or anyone else to have to prove something, I’d genuinely like to know. I don’t do anything to actually protect beavers ,lol .. I just happen to appreciate wildlife and have a desire to observe them / their behavior / social cues etc. and enjoy the blessings Gods provided in all of the amazing and beautiful creation that were given such a beautiful responsibility to care for and yes, also to protect & it’s astoundingly amazing to me , being able to observe the intricate ways all living beings have in such unique, yet also , such similar ways as one another , as were all connected in sharing of certain traits that are just really special and cool and while of course I’d say that us human Beings have been created to a different and higher standard, that we are in a position not only at the top of the food chain but also , just that we are ultimately the living beings that have been given dominion over all other living beings and everything works in this world in a cyclical way, of giving life, sustaining it, providing for each and every link in the chain , that there’s a time and season for everything & for every living being , a cycle and season that one goes through in its lifetime , I feel like This world is a completely amazing thing/ place , where every single thing that could ever be needed has been created/ provided and the intricacy behind the whole process is mind blowing awesome … just seeing how new lands can erupt out of volcanic activity, islands just pulled up out of the ocean , how wildlife discovers and inhabits them and plants seeds that eventually thrive and grow into lands filled with so many various species of living things, how those things work together to support and encourage life , how cyclical weather patterns affect the entire world from currents to winds to geographical features , how all work together to provide stability to support life, it’s astoundingly complex and amazing !!! I could study and observe and enjoy such things all day long! That’s likely why I only view wildlife documentaries whenever I even use this site lol. I literally only view wildlife documentaries or sleep sound’s especially of snowfall , each night for relaxing and stress relief and to assist with sleeping .. I have many other hobbies and interests outside of that, but in terms of what I’ll watch online or tv , this is pretty much it 😂.. I’ll also enjoy programs with preaching the gospel & Bible study type aids that I find helpful and encouraging , but yeah, in terms of my being fascinated with nature and wildlife , I pretty much have enjoyed a plethora of content related to wildlife to enjoy , along with studying more in-depth into various species and whatnot… anyway , it would be interesting to know in terms of how one goes about protecting these animals, like where to begin / what programs may be available etc. , are there any options for people locally in their areas to get involved , etc. I’d just be interested to know more about it , if ya don’t mind.
@@breAnnasmamawhat the the tldr
Really enjoyed this. I wish more people in the UK saw this, there are likely many other spots that would greatly benefit sooner rather than later with these kind of initiatives.
All praise the power of the beaver!
Love beavers so much, such industrious little cuties
As a Canadian who has lived in the wilderness most of my life good luck managing a beaver lol They are managing you.
We as a people need to be managed by the Beaver 🦫❤❤❤❤
What a fantastic documentary, then you so much for this! And hats off to the beavers too!
Bottom line, don't mess with Mother Nature! Don't they say Mother knows best...
Beavers were introduced into the little valley near my mother’s house in western Massachusetts maybe 40 years ago. As your video describes there was an explosion of wildlife
And Love Beavers! Love the documentaries this channel puts out! I am very thankful it's here to learn. Thank you!
i love beavers what an incredibly industrious and cunning creature.
They're expanding across the US as well. Even desert areas of Nevada. Trade-offs, yes, but over-all good for environment.
im in love with the beavers theyre si beautiful and cute
- 6:46 awe omg they're so cute snoring 💓 💖 🦫🦫🦫
Snorkeling above the dam in a beaver pond is about the most fun you can have in fresh water IMHO. You can see so many other species thriving,
we have them in Stockholm, capitel of Swden. Have seen them in an early morning.
Beavers are all about giving a dam.
I Love Beaver Animals
I hope other countries will see the benefits of beaver engineering. I live in Germany, Baden Württemberg,we definitely need some beavers here
What a great programme and what a great future for Britain. Excellent news and excellent thinking
Lol, I gotta say it's pretty rich humans worrying about beavers cutting down too many trees!
Greetings from the BIG SKY. Beavers are cool critters and help out in many places while in other places they present a challenge to water management and agriculture.
❤Thank Goodness people are starting to understand we need to Work with Nature, not against them.
Very good project!
We have them around Stockholm.
Even on island in the archipelago.
Now and then you see a tree chewed off and you feel so much closer to nature.
There isn't a lack of lakes in Swede, being one of the countries with the highest density of lakes in the world.
But that just means the really thrive over here.
4:22 I'm surprised at the size of that felled tree!
Very nice video. Brings joy.
I think on the long term farmers should just let the land adjacant to rivers unused where the beavers activities impact it. Also it would reduce pollution ond eutrophication of water bodies that are directy near agricultural land.
I love beavers, humans have done more destruction, than the amazing beaver ever has. Bring on the Beaver! And the human species should learn to live with them, and the rest of the amazing diverse species they bring with them. ❤️❤️❤️❤️Thankyou for the amazing work you do guys and gals. Much love and hugs
11:40 "they umented all the good things that beavers do" . Loved this video!.
This was a wonderful programme. Many thanks to all involved in its production. Subscribed.
11:40 "they 🦆umented all the good things that beavers do" 🤣
Beautiful!!!!
Big beaver fan here!
Well done Nature on PBS, more documentaries like this one please!
Fantastic piece of work.! Very Encouraging.
These clips always make me smile. Thank you! 🦫💕🦫
I live in the municipality of Chatham Kent in Ontario Canada. Specifically where I live around Rondeau Bay, many of our low wetlands have been destroyed by damming with industrial waste and draining for seed corn. Much of the native wetland peat soils have blown away or been sold for fuel .Beavers are now beginning to reestablish themselves in their native ranges, but are being promoted as the enemy of agriculture, even though no flooding, or any damage has occurred. The people doing this called themselves farmers, but they, raped the land and in a few decades, destroyed soils that took thousands of years to form in many cases, thanks to Beavers.
I remember when it was a part of the Canadian culture to protect our ecosystems, grasslands, wetlands ect ....
@@myhounddog Neo-liberal policies from the early 80s changed all that. Culture has been replaced by the Market.
GREAT ! And very necesary
I live in Canada, and it is pretty common to see beavers here. Even just walking along the river you could see them swimming along pretty well anywhere. I really value the wildlife here, even though many consider them pests I always like seeing skunks, raccoons, deer, beaver, rabbits, and other little animals. It makes you feel like the land is actually alive, that there is something to care for. When I'm in a barren land or big city, I think "here we didn't care, and now everything is gone". I think having cities is ok but there needs to be a balance between wild/well-managed land and industrious human territory.
Wow! These wetlands created by beavers are so beautiful though! The bio-diversities it created are amazing! I think we, as humans should be the one who must adapt to these beautiful and amazing animals' way of life. Thanks for sharing this very informative stuff!
Thanks so much for posting
Beavers are incredible
Thanks Nature 👍
I wonder if people with farmland in beaver flood plains could try growing plants that favor growing in water such as rice and lotus roots. Might be a good way to diversify the foods the UK produces
Wonderful program, thanks
One of the best document about Beaver i seen...
Beavers built Canada. I think they are incredible.🦫
Awesome 👏🏻
Its been too long coming, how it took so long to get this started after so many years pushing for common sense! Great work everyone on the right side of nature 👍🏾
Loved this video!
very beautiful......
What beautiful and smart animal, nature is beatiful in his creations.
You're more then blessed to have a second chance. Don't blow it.
That statement is worth it's weight in gold 🪙
I can see it has been left to me to say it: Every British man wants a bit of beaver nearby.
Africa needs beavers.
More important than introducing more beavers, imo, is learning from them. Beavers can only do so much, after all. Expecting them to mitigate the flooding all throughout the land is a bit of lazy thinking, imo. Much better, and faster, if folks start taking it upon themselves to build what we call Beaver Dam Analogs. There are plenty of videos on TH-cam about their making and how they work, and they can be built very quickly if you're building on a small scale. The key is seeing that every fold and crease in the land is naught but a gutter for when the rain comes. It might be dry at the moment, but we all know it'll soon fill as the next storm comes. So build a small BDA across it. Build dozen of them. Something as simple as some sticks and leaves kicked into the thing can make a huge difference in slowing down the run-off and spreading it out so it has time to percolate down into the ground. And this is something that anyone can do with only the material around them.
Beavers are interesting animals; hotwired to build. A beaver raised since birth by humans will use whatever's available to build dam-like structures.
avery good programme
Wonderful
Beavers are great.
Wonderful👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Lambs are so cute all the creatures being so cute .may god bless them.
Nice video well put together ty.
i'm from East Tennessee. for years and years i used to put my tiny, well camouflaged kayak into a beaver made lake near my house in the Smokies. beavers took a little creek and turned it into the most biodiverse place i've ever had the pleasure of being. i include the park itself in that. beavers, otters, eagles, bears, deer, ducks, local birds, migratory birds, muskrats, so many owls, so many hawks, bobcats, minks, foxes.... as a matter of fact, the only animal i didn't see there was an elk. i've been a wildlife and landscape photographer for a very long time.. long before it was thought of as "cool" to be one. of all the places i've ever taken my camera, i've said "i can't believe i just saw that" out loud to myself in that little beaver lake more than any other place times a thousand. in 2019 the dam broke because of a flood. and because of the amount of tourism traffic and move-ins building around that little lake which nobody used for kayaking except for me and my kids, the beavers moved into the river and didn't rebuild that dam. it broke my heart. it still breaks my heart. and the best part of that little lake was the fact that it was built by the beavers who lived in the lodge in the middle of it. God i loved those little animals so much. i hope their offspring still inhabit the Little River but, who knows. there are thousands and thousands of people floating down that river on a daily basis now with all the new traffic to the park. i sure wish people hadn't found out via social media that outside exists and would head back to the malls they came from!
God bless Beavers 🤩🤲🙏
I absolutely have known how beavers snd many other animal species are s pivotal part of our lives. Why do people repeat information they haven't researched? Many humans keep repeating how fistructive beavers are but it is all the opposite.
Wow that was so amazing, congratulations and thank you to all the people for all their hard work. Just looking at your shining eyes you're obviously on the right track - well done. One thorn in the side of this is the politician, they always have to be there for the "photo op."
The best solution for draining some amount of water in beaver dam is BELL SIPHONS can reduce water without BEAVER noticing just put it in some part of the dam which affects the flooding of farm areas.
I love nature and my dream job is to create a sustainable city that is close to nature here in our city. And watching these videos gives me a deeper desire to make our city a nature city.
YES YES YES!! To beavers!!
In my homeland we are able to live peacefully with the beavers
good luck bevs
I went to a Kansas strip mall for pancakes & beside the building is a beaver lodge, full of trash, its knee deep in places
Keep up the good work. And they can prevent forest fires.