A report recently published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) estimates that 150 beavers are now living wild on the River Tay in Scotland. The report, mainly based on surveys carried out in the summer of 2012, indicates there are 38 or 39 groups of beavers (0.14-0.15 groups or 0.55 to 0.56 individuals per kilometer of occupied waterway). These animals are thought to be descendants from captive collections of beavers in the counties of Perthshire and Angus. Apparently, at the time. only three groups of beavers had built dams, causing some localised problems resulting in some dams being removed. However, as reported by the BBC, local fishermen had no issues with the presence of beavers.† The report, which can be found on the SNH website, recommends carrying out mitigation studies that would enable the coexistence of people and beavers.† Monitoring over the next 2 to 3 years will be carried out by the Tayside Beaver Study Group. This story has also been reported in Wildlife Extra News and the Herald in Scotland – also see YouTube and the BBC Autumnwatch webpage.
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 8:20 am
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