Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) mating behavior

Eurasian beavers ( <i>Castor fiber</i> ) typically mate in the water at night, and observations of mating beavers are extremely scarce. As a result, little is known about their mating behavior. Here, I provide video documentation of beavers mating in the River Elbe during daylight, offering a unique opportunity to observe their mating behavior. The mating cycle consisted of: 1) a phase of self-grooming on land, 2) followed by the male pushing the female into the water and following her, and 3) copulation taking place in the water. This cycle was repeated several times throughout the same day. These observations contribute to our limited understanding of Eurasian beaver mating behavior.