On the Glan on the outskirts of Salzburg, the beaver damage is unmistakable. Peeled and felled trees are a sign of hunger, a sign that a couple is obviously about to start a beaver family.

88 Registered beaver territories

The area along the Glan is one of 88 recorded districts. The beaver should feel at home in Salzburg, confirmed Gundi Habenicht, the beaver expert in the state of Salzburg: “We can see that large parts of the state of Salzburg would still be suitable for the beaver in terms of their natural environment and are not yet settled or are slowly beginning to do so. That is the Pongau, the Lungau and the Salzach-Pinzgau.”

Landowners should vote

Beavers are very sedentary. Wherever they settle, they want to stay with their families. This annoys some landowners, says Gundi Habenicht: “Every landowner who has to deal with a beaver has an immensely increased workload. Because the beaver designs the habitat very dynamically, because trees lie all over the place, then there are one or the other problem, expense or damage.”

It is therefore important to support the landowners and to seek a common dialogue. Because a beaver family inhabits a large territory, it is not about a single landowner, but you should always coordinate with several landowners over a longer period of time, emphasizes the beaver manager.

80,000 euros are currently available from the state budget to compensate for beaver damage and preventive measures.