Beaver Diet

The diet of a Eurasian beaver is exclusively herbivorous, consisting mainly of bark, leaves, and aquatic vegetation. This diet shifts seasonally, reflecting the availability of different plant resources. During the spring and summer months, beavers prefer fresh, soft vegetation such as grasses, aquatic plants, and the leaves of trees and shrubs. In contrast, their winter diet consists mainly of woody material, including the inner bark of trees like willow, poplar, and birch. Beavers are known to store food underwater near their lodges, creating caches of branches and twigs that they can access throughout the winter when other food sources are scarce. This behavior ensures they have a reliable food supply during harsh conditions. By selectively feeding on certain types of vegetation, beavers influence the composition of the plant community around them. Their foraging activities can help promote the growth of certain tree species, contributing to the dynamic balance of riparian forests and enhancing overall biodiversity.