The reintroduction of a long-extinct animal has divided Scotland’s countryside interests like no other over the last several years.
The Tayside Beaver Study Group (TBSG) has begun a programme of live trapping to monitor the movements and health of local beavers along the River Ericht and the Vale of Strathmore.
The TBSG is in place to collect data objectively to present to the Scottish Government on the Tayside beaver population and its impact, both positive and negative.
Project officer Helen Dickinson explained: “We want to establish the health condition of the population across Tayside.
“With genetic testing, we can understand more about the origin of the population, including which part of Europe they may originate from and how individuals across Tayside are related. We’re still in quite low numbers (of specimens). Relatively speaking, we’re in the early stages of the trapping programme and have a fair way to go.
“The logistics of finding somewhere we can trap are difficult,” she continued.
“We have to think about several things, including the welfare of the beaver, we have to be able to have good access so we can remove them from the trap quickly to keep distress to a minimum and we can’t have traps in very public locations as there is a risk of possible public interference.”
Helen said that the study group is trying to promote “practical, non-lethal ways of dealing with the impacts of beavers on land use” and is keen to discuss any problems with landowners.
She continued: “We have to explain that the legal issue around beavers is not straightforward. Currently it’s not illegal to kill a beaver, but it is illegal to possess a live or dead beaver without the appropriate licences from SNH.”
Help is at hand for troubled landowners, however.
Helen said: I am able to undertake site visits to document the problem and discuss methods of minimising the impacts of beaver activity.
“As the project progresses, we hope to offer more advice on various mitigation methods and this information will be available on the website and through contacting me.
“At some point in the near future we’re going to release a questionnaire to landowners and land managers who have beaver activity on their land. This will allow us to gather information on the impacts they feel are as a result of beaver activity, both positive and negative.
“During site visits I am able to collect this information as well.”
Helen Dickinson can be contacted on 01738 444177 or by email to tayside_beavers@snh.gov.uk.