BACE

Between 2017 and 2019 21 beavers were released at Knapdale Forest in Argyll, Scotland to reinforce the population, originally established between 2009 and 2014. Before the release, numbers were dwindling and there was concern that the population might die out. There was also worries about the genetic diversity in the remaining beavers. However, as a result of these releases numbers have been increased in the area and the project has been described as successful. At the same time, many beavers are being culled on the River Tay rather than being deployed in further reintroduction projects (BBC News, The Herald, The Press and Journal, The Times).

9/9/20 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said that an application by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to release the beavers into an enclosure built by the side of the River Dyfi owned by the Trust should provisionally be approved. The plan is to release up to six beavers into an enclosure at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve, near Machynlleth.This has gone out for public consultation, due to close on 11^th October, before a final decision is made (Powys County Times).

19/10/20 The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) oppose the application saying there is insuffuicient evidence to demonstrate that beavers will not be a threat to livestock and the people living in the vicinity – see Farming UK.

NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) together with the University of Exeter will start a new survey of beavers in Scotland on October 1st. The survey will map the distribution  of active territories and assess the health of the population. The survey will cover  the River Tay and adjoining catchments such as the Forth and rivers entering Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The general public are being asked to help and can record sightings and field signs of beavers on the smart phone Mammal Mapper app from the Mammal Society (also see The Scotsman).

A recent paper published in Ecological Applications by Emily Fairfax and Andrew Whittle provides evidence that wetlands and diverse riparian corridors created by beavers can resist fire and protect wildlife. Ben Goldfard has reported on this work in an article for National Geographic. This is another example of the benefits of the activities of beavers and is particular relevant with respect to the wildfires ravaging USA at the moment.

About this book, NHBS says, “Bringing Back the Beaver is farmer-turned-ecologist Derek Gow’s inspirational and often riotously funny firsthand account of how the movement to rewild the British landscape with beavers has become the single most dramatic and subversive nature conservation act of the modern era. Since the early 1990s – in the face of outright opposition from government, landowning elites and even some conservation professionals – Gow has imported, quarantined and assisted the reestablishment of beavers in waterways across England and Scotland. In addition to detailing the ups and downs of rewilding beavers, Bringing Back the Beaver makes a passionate case as to why the return of one of nature’s great problem solvers will be critical as part of a sustainable fix for flooding and future drought, whilst ensuring the creation of essential lifescapes that enable the broadest possible spectrum of Britain’s wildlife to thrive.” (https://www.nhbs.com/bringing-back-the-beaver-book, accessed 16th Sptember 2020)

After consulting with 39 organisations ranging from farming and forestry represntatives to conservation groups, The Beaver Trust has written to Government ministers proposing a national  beaver strategy for England. The strategy involves  a national framework for licenses, releases, protection and management. Not all organisations support the proposals, but all agree to be involved in future discussions.  (Independent, Belfast Telegraph, Kentonline, BBC)

A landmark decision by the Government announced today is that the colony of wild beavers living on the River Otter in Devon, SW England will be allowed to stay. This is the culmination of a 5 years reintroduction study on the River Otter run by Devon Wildlife Trust with the help of many scientists and other organisations. The trial has been described as a great success, and today’s announcement has been widely publicised in the press (BBC, The Guardian, Huffington Post, The Times, The Independent, Evening Standard, Mail Online, The Telegraph).

There is general concern about a high level of culling of beavers on the River Tay with numbers of around 100 being mentioned in the press (e.g. The Ferret). Official numbers killed under licence in 2019 are to be published by Scottish Natural Heritage soon. As a rule, licences for lethal control would only be granted as a last resort and other forms of management should be applied first, including translocation of problem beavers to other areas (also BBC News, The Courier).

The Cornwall Beaver Project at Woodland Valley Farm, managed by farm owner Chris Jones and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is currently featured on BBC Springwatch. The first of several vists to the project, hosted by Gillian Burke, took place in the programme aired on 26th May 2020, with others to follow. All details can be found on the programme’s website.

It has been reported that large numbers of beavers (maybe up to 100) were legally killed by landowners and farmers in  Tayside, Scotland last year (The Ferret, BirdGuides), most between August and December.  Beavers were given legal protection in Scotland on May 1st 2019, and  now a licence must be obtained to control them. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is due to publish 2019 figures in the near future.  Landowners and farmers blame beavers for crop damage and flooding. Culling beavers should always be  a last report.