Beavering away: study to chart species spread
● Public asked to report beaver sightings to create accurate picture
A new study of beavers is due to get under way to plot their spread across the country.
It is the third survey in Scotland since 2012, but the first since the rodents gained protected status last May.
I t i s t h o u g h t p o p u l a t i o n s have dramatically expanded from the area around the Tay where they originally became established around 15 years ago. Areas where sightings h ave r e c e n t l y b e e n r e p o r ted but not confirmed will be investigated.
In the last sur vey, i n 2017, ab out 1,300km of river and loch shores were monitored. The new count will cover an even larger area, as beavers have been spotted as far afield as Lo ch Lomond and Glasgow to the west and Fife to the south-east.
National ag ency Natures - cot, formerly S cottish Natu
ral Heritage, will be working with experts at the University of Essex to conduct the study this autumn and winter.
Researchers will travel on foot and by cano e to search f o r s i g n s o f b e ave r s a c r o s s
Tayside and its surrounding river catchments.
Monitoring will also be carried out around the Forth and systems in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
The project aims to create an
accurate and up-to-date map of active beaver territories and assess the health and spread of the overall population.
The results will help guide future work with the species.
Eurasian beavers were once native to S cotland but have been absent since they were h u n te d to ex t i n c t i o n i n t h e 16th centur y for their skins, meat and oil.
They are considered some of the world’s best natural engineers, able to create new wetlands, restore native wo o d - lands and improve conditions for a wide range of species.
The s p e c i e s was o f fi c i a l l y reintroduced to S cotland as par t of a five -year trial that began in Argyll in 2009.
However, a separate, unofficial colony has sprung up in Tayside after an illegal release or escape from captivity.
Damage and flooding caused by beavers has brought them into conflict with farmers and land businesses in the area, with some resorting to culls.
Project leader Roo Campbell, from Naturescot, said: “From s i g h t i n g s s o f a r t h i s ye a r i t looks like beavers are spreading even further in and around Tayside – there has even been a beaver spotted in the west of Glasgow.
“This is wonderful news, as beavers play a vital role in creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, alleviating flooding and improving water quality.”
But he acknowledged that beavers can also cause prob - lems, par ticularly on prime agricultural land.