GNS Pub-Chat Zoom meeting Wednesday 4th May 2022 – Beavers
During this evening’s Pub Chat Zoom meeting there was some discussion about Beavers (Castor fiber) as a follow up to the Field Meeting visit to the Beaver release enclosure in the Forest of Dean on 13th April.
Beavers have been reintroduced in a number of locations in Britain as a whole but there is what might be seen as a feral population, rather than controlled releases in part of Scotland, specifically in the catchment of the River Tay in Perth & Kinross district. A point was made that given how much information is available about the Beaver populations particularly in Scotland, is there really any need for the long and drawn-out studies and consultations that appear to be necessary before any further releases are licensed, or is the English Government dismissing, or ignorant of, the situation north of the border?
To illustrate that thinking, and for general information, the report to the Scottish Assembly prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage is available here…
Andrew Bluett
9th May 2022