Eurasian beavers are cheap starter animals in Franchise mode. They breed constantly, which is great for release groups and conservation credits. It also means their habitat fills up faster than you expect.
Why start with beavers
- Cheap, and available from the start alongside warthogs and wild boar.
- Fast breeders. You'll have a steady stream of young animals to release.
- Scottish Highlands. Beavers are one of the easy species for that reserve, which is great for beginners.
- Releasing a captive-born beaver makes a nice conservation story for a local-species zoo.
Habitat
- Water and a riverbank.
- A balance of sand, rock and grass. It's easy to tip the balance one way or the other, so check the terrain bar after any changes. In my habitat, welfare dipped to 97% because of terrain rather than space.
- Space for a growing family.
Mixed river habitat
Beavers can share a big European river habitat with:
- Eurasian bitterns
- Common rudd
- Brown trout
That kind of mixed habitat looks great on a temperate map, with the river winding down from the mountains.
Overcrowding
This is the main thing to watch. When beavers keep breeding, the social and space score drops. One of my habitats fell to 69%. When you see it:
- Open the habitat and look at the young beavers.
- Keep any golden-rated youngsters as future breeders.
- Move the rest to storage, then into a release group or the trade centre.
Use contraceptives on animals you're keeping if you don't want more babies.
Releasing beavers
- Release groups go into the Scottish Highlands reserve.
- In career mode, releasing beaver groups is one of the objectives.
- Remember that bought animals can't be released. Release their offspring.
Tips
- If you're choosing between otters and beavers for a river habitat, otters are a bit cuter and more active, but beavers are cheaper and much better for reserve releases.
- Put a beaver lodge or dam-style decoration in the habitat for guests.