Kaliningrad Oblast reports beaver migration from Poland and Lithuania

Russian media outlets have reported on an increase in beaver populations within the Kaliningrad Oblast, using military-style language to describe the phenomenon as an ‘invasion’ or ‘expansion’ from NATO countries, specifically Poland and Lithuania.

Local reports and state-affiliated media claim that the animals are building dams that cause flooding, threatening crops and forests. In early August, local authorities reportedly mobilized approximately 100 people to dismantle 43 beaver dams in the region.

However, scientists and experts describe the situation as a natural migratory process. Veterinary science expert Aleksandr Muromcew noted that the movement of animals is a bidirectional natural occurrence, with populations from Russia also migrating into neighboring countries. Experts emphasize that the increase in beaver numbers is a long-term trend in the former East Prussia region, which provides a suitable habitat for the species.