By Maximilian Hohm, Simon S. Moesch, Jennifer Bahm, Dagmar Haase, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Niko Balkenhol.
We studied how people feel about beavers in Germany. Beavers were brought back about 60 years ago after too many of them were hunted. The beaver populations are doing well now but are also causing some problems, as beavers like to chew trees and change the landscape. We ran an online survey to ask people how they feel about beavers and where they think beavers should live. Over 1,500 people answered, including people form the general public as well as people working in farming and forestry.
We found that everyone sees beavers differently. The general public likes them, but farmers and forest workers have rather negative feelings towards beavers. Also, where people live affects how they feel about beavers. People in Bavaria, where most of the German beavers live, like them less than others in Germany. People are fine with beavers living in places like zoos, parks, and natural areas. But they do not want them in private gardens or fields where crops are grown. Even though beavers have been back for quite a long time, they are still seen as both interesting and annoying. We need to continue to manage beavers and have a better exchange with people whom beavers affect in order to find ways for beavers and people to get along.
Relational Thinking 