Castor fiber bite marks (on Populus nigra + Hedera helix) (4809' N 1657' E)

Description:

2011-12-03 Lower Austria, district Bruck/Leitha - near Roethelstein ruin, Danube National Park (140 msm Quadrant 7867/2).German name: Europischer Biber - Frassspuren (an Schwarz-Pappel und Gewhnlich-Efeu)The beavers here are attacking huge Populus nigra trees; wire mesh fence obviously should protect against them - on a neighbouring tree they did hammer nails into the tree to prevent beavers continuing their work. Neither was of much use, nor seems to be any logic for such measures - first and foremost becasue this is a national park, and secondly because this tree is near as dead anyway, as it already lost its bark completely on the lower stem.Note also the stem of one huge Hedera helix, bitten through by the beaver already; as a consequence, this ivy of course is dead already.I visited the same place on 17th of december (please click here): while this tree is still standing another one has been felled already.