The European beaver was brought back from near extinction and now thrives across the continent. But this conservation success story may have had at least one unintended and potentially harmful consequence. Scientists report in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology that when beavers build new dams where no previous beaver colonies existed, downstream levels of toxic methylmercury rise, at least temporarily.
A Toxic Downside to Saving Beavers
The European beaver was brought back from near extinction and now thrives across the continent. But this conservation success story may have had at least one unintended and potentially harmful consequence.
Oct 28, 2015