ID GUIDE

Eurasian beaver

Intestinal beaver poo is short, fibrous and difficult to find

Beaver poo comes in two forms. One originates from the ‘caecum’ – an adaptation in herbivores with one stomach that aids the digestion of coarse plant material – and is re-ingested to increase the absorption of nutrients. The other more commonly seen faeces has passed directly through the small and large intestines. But, “Finding beaver faeces in the field is generally pretty rare as they toilet in the water, which means it disintegrates faster,” points out Sheelagh McAllister, field officer for the Beaver Trust.