Unique: beaver castles discovered in Avelgem & Oostkamp

N-VA councilor Wim Aernoudt from Gistel asked the question in response to the arrival of the wolf earlier this week. The beaver is the largest rodent in Europe. The animals are known because they build their own dams in nature reserves. A beaver’s burrow or dam consists of branches stacked on top of each other. In between, the beaver brings mud and plants. The beaver builds the dam to be able to control how high the water comes. Because they prefer to live in water that is at least half a meter high.

(read more below the photo (c) Natuurmonumenten.nl)

Rare discovery

The animal is rarely spotted, especially in West Flanders. Traces of the beaver have been found in recent years, especially along the Dijle and Laan in Flemish Brabant. The beaver was also spotted in a few places in Limburg.

Beavers are not seen very often in our province. The news of the recently discovered burrows of beavers in Avelgem and Oostkamp was discussed in the provincial council this afternoon.

A wolf was spotted near Poperinge at the beginning of the week. That too is very unique for our region. The beaver therefore requires more measures than the wolf.

Deputy for Agriculture Bart Naeyaert: “The beaver, that’s a different story. That animal has already settled in two places in West Flanders. In order not to cause tourism, I will not mention the place right now. That beaver is interesting in terms of biodiversity .

Insofar as it is located in nature reserves and has the space there, for itself and for the water. he causes the lake to spill over the land. That’s no problem. If, of course, that happens in a large agricultural area or in the vicinity of homes and floods occur as a result, then we do have a problem.”