It is well known that the relationship between beavers and humans is not that straightforward.
A Penzberger has now developed a device that could improve the relationship between two-legged friends and four-legged friends.
The prototype has already successfully passed an initial test phase.
Soon it will be produced in larger quantities.
Penzberg - Since it was reintroduced in the 1970s, the beaver has spread steadily in Bavaria. Walter Heussler estimates that there are at least 27,000 animals in the Free State. The 76-year-old, who has been working here as a volunteer beaver consultant since 2007, does not have any figures for the district. However, if you go on a beaver search with him, you will find typical beaver signs both in the urban area of Penzberg and on the streams of many surrounding communities: for example, feeding marks on trees.
The beaver also feels at home near the Sindelsdorf district of Mühleck.
If you go on the hiking trails there into the Loisach-Kochelseemoor, you will quickly come across one of the typical beaver dams, which has caused the water of a small stream running parallel to the forest path to rise significantly - a natural way of working of the large rodent that lives near agricultural areas or because it is not at all welcomed by people.
And this is where the "beaver dismaying device" comes into play - a new type of device, according to Heussler, which has never existed before.
It was developed by Martin Thoma.
Penzberg engineer has already developed the "Kitz-Retter"
The Penzberger is a development engineer and a few years ago he developed the so-called “Kitz-Retter”.
According to Heussler, this is a device that farmers put in their fields before mowing, and which then emits special sound and light signals that prompt the deer to get their young out of the field.
Heussler, who is friends with the developer Thoma, of course knew about his "Kitz-Rescuer".
And when the situation with the beavers in Mühleck - Heussler estimates their number at two to three animals - worsened because the animals were building their dams higher and higher, so the water kept piling up and the path threatened to become impassable, he asked Thoma for advice on how to stop the rodent's building activity.
Because simply removing it was out of the question at the Biberdamm in Mühleck, says Heussler.
"According to the law, beaver dams that are directly in front of the beaver castle cannot be removed," explains Heussler.
This would impair the habitat of the beaver, which enjoys a special protection status under European law.
Because the water dammed up by the dams allows the animal to get to land and its castle as easily and safely as possible.
Light and sound signals: Device has successfully completed the test run
Based on the knowledge of his “Kitz rescuer”, Thoma recently developed the beaver deterrent at Heussler's suggestion.
Heussler and he then installed it on a tree above the beaver dam around four weeks ago.
When a beaver approaches, the installed motion detector sends light and sound signals that scare the animal from the dam.
On the one hand, this prevents the rodent from further raising the dam.
On the other hand, the beavers could still visit their castle a few meters away, said Heussler.
After several weeks of testing in Mühleck, Heussler is convinced of the effectiveness of the device.
Because the beavers actually would not have continued to build on their dam.
The deterrent device has also already been tested on a stream near Huglfing - and "to the fullest satisfaction," as Heussler emphasizes.
Beaver Commissioner hopes to improve the coexistence between humans and beavers
He believes that the invention could make an important contribution to improving the way people and beavers live together.
Because especially property owners near the stream are often not good to speak of the animals if their areas are flooded by their construction activity.
But wherever the beaver can work, he is incredibly positive.
Because by building castles and damming rivers, the animal ensures that the surrounding area is watered and thus contributes to the creation of new habitats.
After the successful test phase, the deterrent device was presented to the district office last week, according to Heussler.
In mid-June, developer Thoma wants to produce it in larger quantities in his company "NaturTech Oberland".
