The beaver’s (Castor fiber L.) appearance in the Uzhanskyi National Park and perspectives of emergence of its mountain populations in Zakarpattia

Abstract

Investigations of habitats of the European beaver were carried out within the Uzhanskyi NNP. The preconditions and ways of the species dispersal are analyzed. The appearance of the European beaver in the park is considered as a consequence of reintroduction of this rodent species in neighboring Poland, namely in the mountain part of the San river’s valley divided by the state border of Ukraine. Now beavers are actively occupying and adapting the territory to their own needs. Detailed investigation of signs of the species’ presence showed that a persistent beaver colony exists in the park. The present status of the population is shown, as well as the perspectives of montane beaver populations’ emergence in the Transcarpathian region. Due to instinctive engineering abilities to transform biotopes beavers are able to live under mountain conditions.

Keywords

• beaver
• Castor fiber
• distribution
• beaver colony
• Zakarpattia
• Ukraine