I didn’t expect that [this]’

Beavers have a reputation for reshaping rivers and wetlands, but new research shows that their dam-building behavior also supports local bat populations.

A recent study published in Journal of Animal Ecology Swiss researchers found that bat populations are more active, more diverse, and feed more frequently in areas formed by beavers than in similar streams without them.

Eurasian beavers were once It was almost eliminated Throughout Europe by fur traders, with There are only a few thousand left In the nineteenth century. With hunting bans and reintroduction programmes, their numbers have now increased More than 1.4 millionwith nearly 5,000 across Switzerland, where the study was conducted.

As they dam streams and cut down trees, beavers create ponds, deadwood, and patchy forest canopies. These changes not only benefit the fish and aquatic life in the ponds; They also improve the conditions of the wider ecosystem outside the water.

To understand how bats respond to beaver populations, researchers studied eight Swiss rivers with active beaver dams and compared them to nearby stretches without beavers. They recorded bats’ echolocation calls, tracked feeding activity, measured insect populations, and assessed habitat features such as dead wood and vegetation structure.

Bat activity increased by about 60% near beaver ponds, while feeding activity doubled. On average, researchers recorded five bat species each night in beaver areas, compared to four species in control areas. Endangered bats They were more likely to appear around beavers.

“I did not expect such a large increase in bat numbers.” He said Valentin Moser, who led the research as part of research by the Swiss Federal Institute of Forests, Snows and Landscapes (WSL) and the Institute for Water Research Don’t hesitate.

according to the studyBats are attracted by a combination of better habitat and more food. Beaver activity creates standing dead trees for bats to strike Use for cavitationalong with more open and diverse forest edges that make hunting easier. These areas also support larger insect populations, giving bats a more reliable source of food.

One endangered bat that benefits beavers is the Western barbastille batwhich shelter under the loose bark of dead trees, a common feature of beaver territories.

“These logs stay standing for years and provide very valuable habitat, because they are rare,” Moser said. Don’t hesitate In a press release.

Wildlife and conservation experts said the findings highlight the beaver’s role as a keystone species, ecosystem engineer, and natural ally that protects vulnerable wildlife by supporting biodiversity across land and water.

“Almost all bats are endangered and in danger [International Union for Conservation of Nature] red list” He said Christoph Angst, head of the National Beaver Office in Switzerland and author of the study, per Don’t hesitate. “They need support, and beavers seem to provide just that.”

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