Stau am Stausee? Biberexkursion im Irsental

As part of the Nature Park Academy, the Südeifel Nature Park offers an excursion with beaver expert Markus Thies at the Irsental reservoir.

As part of the South Eifel Nature Park Academy, a guided beaver excursion will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Irsental. The start is at 10:00 AM, and the end is around 12:30 PM.
There are parking options at the campsite by the reservoir in Irsental; this is also the meeting point.

A short introduction with visual materials (including a specimen) will open the excursion and explain the key terms. Afterwards, we will head into the field: Together with beaver expert Markus Thies, we will discover typical signs of beavers – for example, the beaver lodge, feeding traces, and indications of where water has been dammed or a stream has been altered. We will also discuss the role of the beaver in the nature park, its presence in Rhineland-Palatinate and Germany, as well as how Canadian and Elbe beavers differ. The focus will be on examining from multiple perspectives: Only when water dynamics, the lifestyle of the beaver as an "ecosystem engineer," and human needs are considered together does a more complete picture emerge – as a foundation for understanding and promoting the balance between humans and the environment in the nature park.

Contents:

• The beaver in Irsental: lifestyle and habitat
• Beavers in Rhineland-Palatinate and Germany
• Canadian beavers and European beavers: classification and differences
• Construction style, beaver lodge, dam water, and their ecological impact
• Reading traces: feeding traces, dams, activity areas

Schedule:

• Introduction of the beaver (with specimen as a visual object)
• Excursion in the field around the reservoir: observing and interpreting beaver lodges and clear beaver traces

Note: Sightings of a beaver are rare – the focus is on traces and habitat structures.

Meeting point: Meeting point/Parking in front of the campsite at Irsentalpark / reservoir in Irsental, MAPS location

Registration required

Registration period: February 23, 2026, to March 20, 2026 (Shortened registration and payment period due to the Easter holidays, please settle invoices by March 27.)

Important notes:

• Please bring weatherproof clothing and sturdy footwear.
• The excursion takes place in the field; the circular path around the reservoir is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
• The event may be canceled at short notice in case of bad weather. 

Speaker: Markus Thies, beaver expert, NABU South Eifel

Responsible / Contact: BNE - Specialist Bo Raber - raber@naturpark-suedeifel.de

(Original text: Nature Park Association South Eifel)