Graubünden: The Highest-Altitude Beaver Family in Europe in the Engadin

This was made possible by a surprising yet fortunate coincidence – the starting point of a small miracle in the high-alpine wilderness.

In 2017, a single male beaver settled in the area near Samedan . This exceptionally high-altitude habitat was remarkably unusual – not exactly the kind of place where a female was likely to turn up. Yet the lone master builder's perseverance would prove worthwhile: after eight years – in February 2025 – a female did indeed arrive, and just a few months later there was offspring. Three young were born in June 2025.

Typically, beavers give birth to one to four young after a gestation period of around 100 days; the young are nursed in the den for about a month before venturing out to explore the world and search for food. The young animals remain with their parents for up to two years before they can establish their own territories.

The outlook for the future remains exciting: should there be offspring again in 2026, two generations of young beavers could simultaneously live within the same family in the Engadin – an exception in Europe.

An Animal Returns – The History and Protection of the Beaver in Switzerland

In the early 19th century, the beaver was almost completely wiped out in Switzerland – not for reasons of fashion, but because its meat, fur, and in particular castoreum (an oil-like substance) were in demand in cooking, perfumery, and medicine.

The turning point came with reintroduction: in 1956, eight beavers were released in the forest of Versoix (Geneva) – half of them survived. In the years that followed, between 1956 and 1978, more than 141 beavers were reintroduced at around 30 sites – again with modest success. In 1962, the beaver received legal protection. Today, an estimated 3’500 individuals live in Switzerland.

Why is this case so special?

• Unexpected altitude records: A beaver family at 1’700 metres is unique in Europe. Beavers are generally found in lower-lying, forested riparian landscapes.
• A symbol of slow but lasting change: Eight years alone – this shows how resilient animals and ecosystems are in responding to climatic and human changes.
• A story with a future: The prospect of two generations of young beavers in the same environment makes this event historic.

In the quiet mountain valleys of the Engadin, nature is currently writing a quiet but significant story: a beaver family, high up, far from its usual habitat, is building a new chapter for biodiversity in the Alps. More than a curiosity – a symbol of return and the will to live – in the midst of high-Alpine idyll.