Long-prized for their thick fur, the cuddly Eurasian beaver has been hunted by humans for thousands of years and a new genetic study from a large group of international researchers has found that predation by humans has significantly cut down the genetic diversity of these animals.
“While beaver populations have been growing rapidly since the late 19th century when conservation efforts began, genetic diversity within modern beaver populations remains considerably reduced to what was present prior to the period of human hunting and habitat reduction,” said study author Michi Hofreiter, a biology professor from the University of York in the United Kingdom.
Read the full, original story: Genetic Diversity Of The European Beaver In Peril Due To Human Predation