Eurasian beavers have been reintroduced to several UK river systems and are demonstrating remarkable ecosystem engineering benefits for water quality, flooding and biodiversity.
Reintroduced beavers face welfare risks from illegal killing, territorial disputes during establishment and road mortality where river systems cross roads. Beavers are monogamous and socially complex; disruption to family groups affects individual welfare significantly. Conflicts with landowners about flooding of fields require management agreements that avoid lethal control.