Government Scraps Construction Project After Beavers Finish The Job Themselves
For 7 long years, a land revitalization project had been underway in the Brdy region of the Czech Republic. Decades earlier, the military had built a bypass ditch along a nearby river, draining what was once a lush wetland home to numerous native species — and environmental officials hoped to set things right.
However, after years of review, planning and difficulties securing permits, the project to restore the wetlands made little progress. And at final count, its budget had ballooned to 30 million Czech korunas — around $1.2 million (USD).
But then a group of leathery-tailed locals stepped in gnaw through all that red tape.
According to the Brdy Protected Land Administration (PLA), which was spearheading the project, a family of beavers was found to have constructed dams along the bypass ditch, and in pretty much the same spots human constructions were planned.
And they were able to do it all in a matter of days — kicking off the wetland restoration process all on their own.
Speaking to Radio Prague International, Brdy PlA head Bohumil Fišer praised the beavers’ efficiency in actually completing a task his agency had so long in the works.
“The beavers beat [us] to it, saving us CZK 30 million,” Fišer said. “They built the dams without any project documentation and for free."
Beavers are incredibly quick workers, capable of building large dams in a short amount of time. These constructions, and the ponds they form, are vital for numerous wetland species — no human intervention needed.
As the Brdy PLA writes:
“Beaver wetlands are a paradise for many animals and plants. They are stable ecosystems that contribute to the diversity of our landscape. Beavers are returning the landscape altered by humans to its natural beauty.”
