Look out for beavers

The Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the Mammal Society are urging people to report any signs of beavers they see around Perthshire.

All three organisations believe keeping tabs on the mammals as they spread across Scotland is“vital”for their future conservation and to help inform where further expert surveys should take place.

The Mammal Society in particular is encouraging people to use its free Mammal Mapper app which anyone with a smart phone can download and use to record and report beaver signs and sightings while out and about.

Scotland’s beavers are concentrated in Knapdale Forest in Argyll and in the River Tay catchment area. Populations are said to be gradually expanding from Tayside, with recent sightings of beavers being reported in the River Forth around Stirling and Fallin, and as far afield as Loch Lomond and Glasgow.

Gill Dowse, knowledge and evidence manager at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, remarked: “Tracking beaver signs is one of the most important things that people can do to help understand whether we have a thriving and expanding population in Scotland.

“Beavers have been absent from Scotland for more than 400 years and their return offers huge benefits for biodiversity and for society. While it’s encouraging that they are breeding in Scotland and slowly spreading out into new territories, they still need our help.

“Mapping their signs can help to inform where additional introductions could take place to support a healthier population based on a larger number of animals. It can also help us understand what impact licensed lethal control is having on their range.”

Dr Helen Taylor, conservation programme manager at RZSS, said: “We want to see a healthy and thriving population of beavers across Scotland.

“Every field sign that is recorded on the free Mammal Mapper app helps to build up a greater understanding of where these amazing animals are living in Scotland.

“It only takes a few seconds to record a sign or sighting on the app, and it will make a difference to the future conservation of Scotland’s beavers.”

Professor Fiona Mathews, chair of the Mammal Society, added:“Beavers are classed as endangered, despite the success of reintroductions, because their populations are still localised and fragmented.

“Mapping signs and sightings of beavers using the Mammal Mapper app will help us to understand how far beavers have spread naturally, and to identify areas where they still need our help.”

The free Mammal Mapper app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play.