Study of the beaver’s food resources in the Gomilshanski Forests National Park (2015–2024)

The results of winter surveys of beavers in two colonies located on lakes in the floodplain of the Donets River, and materials on beaver feeding on woody plants are presented. The feeding behaviour of beavers in the Park is similar to that in other regions, especially in the Czech Republic, where the choice of tree species for feeding is similar. Also similar is the feeding on aquatic herbaceous plants, which are available almost all year round due to warm winters. The diet includes 12 tree species in one colony and 13 in the other. Beavers prefer softwoods (maple, willow, poplar, elm). According to the calculation of food units, an invasive species, the ash maple, accounted for a large share of winter food (39.5% and 76% in the two colonies studied). Due to the high availability of woody food, beavers do not move away from the water further than 20 metres and their number depends only on the water levels of the lakes. If the lakes are not filled enough, beaver dens are above the water level and the animals quickly change their places of residence. Migration of beavers from dry lakes to more watered ones and to rivers has also been observed.