Jautājums/Question Latvian beavers
Hi! I have read that beavers are surprisingly common in Latvia, compared to Finland. I am planning my trip to Riga in 2026 and I was wondering if you have any tips for seeing beavers. I have been thinking about travelling in June, but I assume that time of the year doesn't matter too much. Perhaps they might be a bit shy on summer season when people are everywhere?
Anyways. If you have any ideas where I could have decent chance of seeing beavers within relatively short train or bus ride from Riga, I would love your tips. I'd try not to disturb them. Would be just lovely to see one for real. Big fan.
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u/No-Importance6022 1d ago
Sigulda, Ligatne, Cesis all near Gauja river. Seen them many times. Small lakes near rivers. But it is the same as with any wild animal. Never a guarantee. Just walk a smaller river, find a beaver dam and sit there. But i usually see them in Gauja or lakes. And mostly at dusk. But honestly…find a youtube video. 😂
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u/SwedishDad01 1d ago
I remember that I read about this private project: Beaver Village Also, take a look at the Līgatne Nature Trails.
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u/kloetenbaerbel 1d ago edited 1d ago
So common even that apparently they put beaver butts in beer as I found out while looking for stuff to do on my own vacation.
Prusaks offers both traditional beer styles and well-balanced lagers and ales, alongside truly unconventional creations – such as a tomato and chili gose or a stout brewed with beaver glands. Every beer tells its own story: the name and label design of each brew are developed in collaboration with various artists, turning every bottle into part of a broader narrative.
EDIT: I think it's supposed to taste like vanilla as the same beaver butt stuff is used in vanilla ice cream? 🤨
EDIT 2: Has anyone here tried that beer? I'm kinda curious now.
EDIT 3: OP they offer brewery tours, maybe you can see some beavers there while they're getting their butts milked or whatever it is they do.
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u/Effective_Canary_896 17h ago
That whole brewery is piss. Avoid.
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u/kloetenbaerbel 17h ago
Thanks for the warning! Can you recommend other breweries/local beers/pubs with a good selection?
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u/GraveFable 1d ago
They are very shy in general. You'll have to role play a nature photographer and camp out in a hidden spot for a long time for a chance to see them. There were a bunch of them around my grandparents farm and over the combined several years I've been there I've only managed to see them once very late at night.
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u/nowruined 18h ago edited 18h ago
Kinda depends, i have seen plenty of beavers swimming while fishing., for example, Loja canal/river connecting to Gauja right beside the bridge before Murjāņi. Kinda annoying to be honest if you want to throw your lure in there but you can't because a pair of beavers are chilling there, sometimes kicking their tail and making a big splash/sound.
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u/Wooden-Ad-2763 Rīga 17h ago
This is so wholesome and silly😂 I love your beaver appreciation! They are cool to see. I'd also recommend trying the canal by the Opera, but it's not a sure thing you'll see them. I've lived in Riga my whole life and I've only seen them there 2 or 3 times. But you can (illegally tho) feed ducks there. If you prefer pigeons and sparrows, go to Bastejkalns, they will sit on your hands if you keep still and lure them in haha
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u/wertyce 16h ago
Ducks are cute, but not when they are bloodthirsty for food. I prefer to look them from a safe distance. A bit more afraid for pigeons and sparrows who get a bit too close. Ducks are more wholesome. But we have plenty of those, and squirrels. We just don't have much of beavers.
For some reason I think beavers, otters, lemmings, marmots and badgers are cute. And haven't seen them in the wild. Lovely fuzzballs with adorable faces and a bit funny walking style.
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u/Eastern-Moose-8461 15h ago
I've been at war with 2 beaver families for the past 3 years, my field is on the border of 2 hunting clubs, none of them want to eliminate my issue, it's insane.
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u/slvrsmth 4h ago
That's weird. The clubs are usually desperate for hunting rights contracts, especially contiguous with their existing territories. Unless something else is going on, you could give them hunting rights on your land in exchange for "maintenance" duties. Just make sure the contract you draw up is not unlimted in time (for example, has to be renewed every year), or has favourable break clauses ("land owner can break the contract if the club is not providing agreed services"). That way you can go/threaten to go to the other guys if things are not working out.
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u/restingracer 5h ago
As a hunter I want to point out that it is very hard to see them in daylight, if they feel safe, they could swim around in rivers/lakes and you could see their head, but it is very random. They become active when it gets pitch black, all the tree chewing and building happens at the night. I have waited for them for numerous evenings.
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u/EmiliaFromLV 1d ago
You can taste them in the Āgenskalns market
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u/invinciblepancake 1d ago
Srsly? Where exactly? I'd love to try
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u/EmiliaFromLV 1d ago
There is this company Bebra spēks and among other products they have canned beaver meat and some weird stuff I am not sure about = https://www.bebra-speks.lv/produkcija/bebra-muskusa-dziedzeru-kapsulas/index.php
but they have a stand in Āgenskalns market.
https://www.bebra-speks.lv/tirdznieciba/index.php
That meat could go well with pancakes I guess. Taste might be invincible.
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u/crashraven 1d ago
Moi. Go to the canal near the national opera at about 6 in the morning, if you will be lucky you will see some beavers there. They like to dive though, so you might not see them