Last month NatureScot published their third Beaver Management report which detailed the number of licences used for Beaver management in Scotland as well as the licensable activities which were carried out. These activities range from dam removal and translocation all the way up to killing.
Beavers in Scotland are a protected species preventing anyone from disturbing, capturing or killing them. However, since their protection in 2019 it has been possible to apply for a licence from NatureScot to undertake activities that would otherwise be illegal if Beavers are found to be causing significant damage (largely flooding of low-lying agricultural land).
In the previous two management reports (2020 and 2021) we have seen many more Beavers killed (115 and 87) than translocated (31 and 33). An unforgivable loss given the amount of suitable vacant habitat that is present in Scotland (~120,000 hectares) where Beavers could be translocated to (we hosted one such translocation at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond earlier this year). For 2022, following the publication of the Beavers in Scotland Strategy, the management report states that there was a reduction in the number of Beavers killed (63) and an increase in those translocated (42) which is an improvement compared to previous years but the reality is, more beavers need to be translocated, particularly within Scotland.
One of the young Beavers released at RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond earlier this year. Beaver Trust.
Of the 42 Beavers translocated in 2022 only 15 stayed in Scotland with the rest going to projects in England. Whilst translocation is preferable to killing, the removal of these animals from Scotland when so much habitat is available and the assessments on major catchments such as the Forth have been completed and found to be favourable is a loss.
Public landowners who can offer sites for translocation such as Forestry Land Scotland, Crown Estate Scotland and NatureScot themselves need to do more here but there is also a role for private landowners. Translocations of Beavers should not be the preserve of large conservation organisations or national parks, landowners with burns that require re-naturalising or that want to see more diversity in their wetlands should also be encouraged and made aware that the movement of these animals is possible. Applications within assessed catchments should be a light touch approach particularly in areas where Beavers are already found. Outside of these areas, and ahead of natural expansion, more education is required to inform communities what Beavers can and can’t do. This needs to be an honest exchange that signposts people to the resources available if negative impacts are encountered.
As we often hear, out of 240 countries/territories across the world, Scotland ranks 28th from the bottom in the Biodiversity Intactness Index, a global analysis on how much human activity has impacted nature. The return of Beavers may be just a single piece in improving that ranking but with their ability to create wetlands to the benefit of hundreds of other species they are a crucial piece, worthy of learning to live alongside again.
Main image: a Beaver in long grass. RSPB
Amazing and helpful. The chance to monitor changes and tendencies in the beaver is very appreciated. We have an introductory course in Scotland. I also find this to be true. Rather than relocating them, it is absurd that any beavers are being murdered eggy car. But as the article notes, more information for the general public is required regarding what beavers can and cannot do.
As mentioned above. Informative and interesting. I really appreciate the opportunity to keep up with developments and trends in teh beaver. Introduction programme here in Scotland. And I agree. It is crazy that any beavers are being killed rather than relocated. But as mentioned in the article there needs to be far more education to the population at large about what beavers can and can’t do. It is ignorance and inbuilt resistance to change that stops many imaginative and positive things happening that could make a significant and positive difference to our Scottish countryside
Informative and interesting. Seems crazy that more beavers are still being killed rather than relocated.