ORDER RODENTIA: RODENTS 195 



In the Province of Hannover they disappeared more than a hundred 

 years ago. 



Beavers now find refuge only on the middle course of the Elbe 

 between Wittenberg and Magdeburg, together with its tributaries 

 the Mulde, Saale, and Nuthe, and the adjacent Altwasser. The 

 population was estimated in 1890 at 200; in 1913, at 188; in 1919, at 

 42; in 1922, at 200; in 1926, at 164; in 1929, at 263. 



The almost total destruction of the Beaver in Europe is to be 

 explained only by avaricious persecution. It was pursued because of 

 its tasty flesh, its valuable pelt, and especially its castor, which 

 commanded a very high price as a panacea. 



The presence of the Beaver today on the middle Elbe is due to 

 certain protective measures. Formerly it enjoyed no protection. 

 The Prussian Game Law of 1907 gave it a 10-month closed season. 

 In 1921 and again in 1929 it was given complete protection. Along 

 the Elbe mounds are constructed to furnish a refuge during floods, 

 and some willow plantations are provided as food. There are re- 

 strictions on fishing and trapping in the immediate vicinity of the 

 Beaver burrows. The Provincial Assembly has made an appro- 

 priation of 1,000 RM. for settlement of claims for damage by 

 Beavers. Despite these protective measures, the Beaver stand in- 

 creases only slightly or not at all. 



Owing to the penalties involved and the difficulty of disposing 

 of the skin, deliberate killing for profit has practically ceased. 

 But some animals still fall victims each year to the human lust for 

 killing. More serious is the killing for protection against damage. 

 In the eyes of the country people and the fishermen the Beaver is 

 injurious. It steals their potatoes and turnips and destroys their 

 fruit and forest trees. Some are caught and drowned in fish nets 

 and traps. They are also endangered by steel traps set for Otters. 



Floods and drifting ice constitute the greatest menace to the 

 Beaver. Tuberculosis was found in a dead animal. 



Introduction of Beavers into other parts of Germany, where they 

 may find suitable living conditions and safety, is being considered. 

 (Kriiger, 1931, pp. 53-56.) 



The present range in Germany is on the Elbe between Torgau 

 and Magdeburg, and on the adjacent tributaries. Tuberculosis has 

 been found the cause of death of a number of animals. Some Beavers 

 have been introduced in the Schorfheide, near Berlin. (Reichsstelle 

 fur Naturschutz, in litt., October, 1936.) 



In Wiirttemberg the last specimen was killed in 1869 on the 

 Danube at the mouth of the Iller River (Wiirttembergische Natur- 

 aliensammlung, in litt., October, 1936) . 



Blasius refers (1857, p. 407) to the former occurrence of Beavers 

 in northwestern Germany on the Moselle, the Maas [now in the 



