“The beavers beat [us] to it …”
For seven years, officials in the Brdy region of the Czech Republic worked tirelessly on a land revitalization project. Decades earlier, a military-constructed bypass ditch had drained a once-thriving wetland, displacing countless native species. The goal was to restore the habitat to its former glory.
Despite years of planning, bureaucratic hurdles, and difficulties securing permits, progress remained painfully slow. Meanwhile, the project’s budget swelled to 30 million Czech korunas (roughly $1.2 million USD) with little to show for it.
Then, a group of industrious, leathery-tailed engineers stepped in—unknowingly solving the problem overnight.
According to the Brdy Protected Landscape Area (PLA), a family of beavers had moved into the site and built dams along the bypass ditch—ironically, in nearly the exact locations originally designated for human-made structures. And unlike the stalled project, the beavers completed their work in just days, kickstarting the wetland’s natural recovery all on their own.
Speaking to Radio Prague International, Brdy PLA head Bohumil Fišer marveled at the beavers’ efficiency in achieving what humans had struggled to accomplish for years.
“The beavers beat us to it, saving us 30 million korunas,” Fišer said. “They built the dams without any project documentation—and for free.”
Beavers are renowned for their ability to rapidly construct large dams, which, in turn, create ponds essential for countless wetland species. Their work requires no human intervention, yet the results are transformative.
As the Brdy PLA noted:
“Beaver wetlands are a paradise for many animals and plants. These stable ecosystems enrich our landscape, restoring what humans have altered to its natural beauty.”