Facts about Beavers in Sweden
The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is one of Sweden’s most fascinating wild mammals. It lives wherever water meets forest — and is most often noticed through signs rather than sightings.
Beavers shape their surroundings. Lodges, canals and (sometimes) dams can turn a small stream into a rich wetland landscape that benefits many other species.
Quick facts
Scientific name: Castor fiber
Weight: 11–30 kg (adult)
Body length: 80–100 cm + tail 25–50 cm
Lifespan: 16–24 years
Status in Sweden: Reintroduced after extinction; now well established
Estimated population in Sweden: 150,000+ individuals
Natural predators: Humans (hunting + traffic), wolves, lynx
Eurasian beaver in Sweden swimming in the water. Photo: Jörgen Pettersson
Status and population in Sweden
Beavers were once widespread in Sweden, but heavy hunting pushed them to extinction by the late 1800s. After reintroduction in the early 1900s, the population recovered strongly and has spread back across large parts of the country.
Today, beavers are considered well established in Sweden, with an estimated population of at least 150,000 individuals.
Where do beavers live in Sweden?
Beavers always live close to water — lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and sometimes even coastal areas. They prefer calm places with access to food such as aspen, birch and willow.
Even where beavers are common, they often remain unseen. The easiest way to “find” beavers is usually to look for fresh signs along the shoreline.
The lodge is the beaver’s home — dry inside, with an underwater entrance.
The lodge (home)
A lodge is the beaver’s home — a shelter where it rests, stays warm, and raises young.
Beavers build lodges on the shore using branches, twigs, mud, and sometimes rocks. Some lodges can reach the height of an average human.
Inside, the living chamber is kept dry and above the waterline, while the entrance is usually underwater. This makes it harder for predators to reach the beaver.
In areas with sandy or muddy banks, beavers may dig burrows instead of building a lodge.
A dam controls water level. It’s built in streams — mainly to create a deeper pond around the home.
The dam (water level)
A dam is not a home. A dam is a water-level tool.
Beavers that live in lakes and larger rivers often don’t need dams because the water level is already stable.
In small streams, however, beavers may build dams to raise and control the water level. That creates a pond that helps keep lodge or burrow entrances underwater — while the living chamber stays dry above the waterline.
Dams are built from branches, twigs and mud, and they can turn a narrow stream into a small wetland.
Gnawed trunks and fresh stumps are often the easiest signs to spot — even when the beaver stays hidden.
Why do beavers cut down trees?
Tree cutting is how beavers get both food and building material.
Beavers cut trees for two main reasons:
Food: leaves, shoots and bark
Building material: branches for lodges and dams
An adult beaver can fell surprisingly large trees, usually working quietly during the night. You’ll often see “pencil-shaped” stumps and fresh gnaw marks near the water.
Family life
Beavers live in family groups consisting of an adult pair and their offspring. The young are called kits and are usually born in May, with up to four kits per litter.
Families can include kits from previous years, forming groups of up to eight individuals.
What do beavers eat?
Beavers are strict vegetarians. They feed on leaves, shoots, bark, herbs and aquatic plants. They do not eat fish.
Beavers do not hibernate. In winter they are generally less active and spend more time resting, often relying on stored food close to their home.
Why do beavers cut down trees?
Beavers are known for felling trees. An adult beaver can cut down a tree up to 50 cm in diameter overnight. They often gnaw around the trunk and may let wind help topple it.
They cut trees mainly for two reasons:
1) Food: leaves, shoots and bark
2) Building material: branches for lodges and dams
Hunted to extinction
The European beaver was once widespread in Sweden, but it was hunted to near extinction by the end of the 1800s. The last beavers in Sweden were killed in 1871.
Beavers were hunted both for fur and for castoreum — a secretion from scent glands that was historically used in perfumes and believed to have medicinal properties.
A successful reintroduction
Between 1922 and 1939, around eighty beavers were reintroduced into western Sweden from Norway.
Since then, the beaver population has increased to an estimated 150,000+ individuals and is now returning to much of its former range. The result became one of Sweden’s best-known wildlife recovery stories.
How to see beavers in Sweden
Beavers are most active at dusk and during the night. Calm summer evenings often offer the best chances.
Tips for a realistic beaver encounter:
Choose quiet water: sheltered bays, reed edges, slow river bends
Look for signs: fresh gnaw marks, slides, tracks and lodges
Go at sunset and stay at least 30–60 minutes.
Move quietly or sit still (a canoe or slow boat can be ideal)
Beaver boat trip with WildSweden. We travel by boat with silent electric motors to get close to but not disturb the beavers. Photo: Åsa Stanaway
See beavers in the wild — on a guided tour
If you want a realistic chance of seeing a beaver (and understanding what you’re looking at), go with local guides. We choose the right waterways for the season, keep things quiet, and focus on respectful wildlife watching — often from a boat on calm evening water.
Beavers in Sweden: Questions and answers
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Yes. Beavers can live close to people if there is water and food, but they usually remain unnoticed.
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Beavers are shy and avoid people. Give them space like any wild animal.
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A lodge is the beaver’s home. A dam controls water level.
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No. Beavers are strict vegetarians.
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No. They are active year-round but generally less active in winter.
