Irreparable damage

“What a pleasure it was to read such a common sense letter from your correspondent George Thomson regarding wolves,” writes a Carse of Gowrie reader.

“The re-introduction of these predators should never be considered, bearing in mind they were responsible for the death of many children in 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The last known wolf killed in Morayshire was by a man called Macqueen of Findhorn.

“At Moulinvadie, near Kinloch Rannoch, a wolf entered the cottage and threatened to take a child from its cot, the mother screamed for her husband, the miller, who rushed in and killed the wolf with an axe. This was about 1710 in the reign of George I.

“The last two wolves thought to be shot in Perthshire were at Whitebridge below Tomphubil on the Foss Aberfeldy road and at Killiecrankie by Sir Ewan Cameron.

“Sutherland claims to have the site of the last wolf shot in Scotland beside the A9 road near Helmsdale. A plaque on the roadside commemorates this event.

“As for beavers, those responsible for releasing them should be jailed, in my opinion. The damage they are doing is irreparable. Recently there have been perceptive articles from Jenny Hujl, Andrew Arbuckle and the NFU vice president Martin Kennedy, all pointing out the folly of releasing these rodents.

“Hopefully we will not be cursed by our successors in 50 years’ time for not having the courage and foresight to control these pests while we have the chance.”