Eurasian Beaver Survey & Management

Eurasian Beaver Survey & Management

Beavers are ecosystem engineers that can deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, water quality, and natural flood management, but they can also create conflicts where land or infrastructure is at risk.

At FLOW CIC, we carry out beaver surveys and management planning to support landowners, developers, and conservation projects. Our surveys identify signs of beaver activity such as burrows, dams, lodges, feeding remains, and footprints, and can include trail cameras and habitat assessments. We use this information to assess impacts, inform management strategies, and support licence applications where intervention is needed.

Whether you’re monitoring a reintroduction site or managing existing populations, our team helps balance ecological benefits with practical land use needs, in line with Natural England guidance and the Beaver Management Strategy Framework.

We hold a Natural England CL51 license to modify or remove dams, burrows, and lodges at any time of year. This is a last resort but sometimes required. Get in touch.

How do you survey for and manage beavers?

Beavers are protected species that build dams, lodges, and burrows, significantly altering river habitats.
Surveys identify field signs such as gnawed trees, tracks, dams, lodges, burrows, and feeding stations.
Tools include walkover surveys, trail cameras, habitat assessments, and mapping of wetland changes.
Management planning balances the ecological benefits of beavers with land use, infrastructure, or flood risk concerns.
Where beaver activity causes problems, licensed mitigation (e.g. dam notching, flow devices) may be required.
All actions must comply with Natural England licensing and the Beaver Management Strategy Framework.
Useful for landowners, conservation projects, and developers operating in or near catchments with wild or reintroduced beaver populations.