First Beaver

[dogone]

Just read that the first family of beavers was released in Scotland. Did this take place near any of you?
They may turn out to be a big mistake. Now that trapping is no longer profitable they have flooded tens of thousands of acres of forest and some farmland. In Saskatchewan we may have land to spare but the UK seems quite densely populated.

 

[John Gryphon]

they have flooded tens of thousands of acres of forest and some farmland.

Isn't that what nature intended? Btw I`m a trapper myself.

 

[slider]

This happened a while ago. 10+ years for a legal reintroduction in Knapdale, where they are spreading very slowly and not causing too much grief due to the terrain and the fact most of the area is commercial forestry.

There was also an illegal release in Perthshire were they are spreading quickly and cause real problems for many farmers. These have now been given protected status

 

[deerstalker.308]

Different species (European as opposed to North American) marginally different behaviours and widely regarded (jury is out) to be an ecosystem engineer over this way. Political hot potato and very divisive subject bound to cause upset with many. Releases have as said above been going on for a long time, legitimately all behind fences though there have been several illegal unfenced releases too.

 

[stalker.308]

Just read that the first family of beavers was released in Scotland. Did this take place near any of you?
They may turn out to be a big mistake. Now that trapping is no longer profitable they have flooded tens of thousands of acres of forest and some farmland. In Saskatchewan we may have land to spare but the UK seems quite densely populated.

Completely different outfit to the Canadian beaver- European beavers make much smaller dams. Been in Wales a while also.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Now pest proportions on the Tay and creating problems for motorists - there are two high-viz besuited gentlemen rejoicing in the title Beaver Officers who are employed on safety (Beavers?) around Aberfeldy - I have actually seen them, they do exist.
An informal chat with some residents suggests that no-one is particularly happy about their introduction and spread and even the local landowners are complaining because of detrimental effects on their private hydro schemes. If memory serves they have been so “successful” that a cull was started (only if a course had been attended first by the aspiring Beaver Hunter) but apparently this was soon “blocked” - you could guess by who….
This is just some of the damage I saw last year in a 40 yards stretch - either side of the busy road just across the old Tay bridge at Aberfeldy. These mature trees will if left inevitably will fall onto the footpath/road but as can be seen below “preventative measures“ are in place, Anyhoo, what’s a few crushed pedestrians/cars, give or take….
Go figure.

 

[Dave Lakes]

Fishing at Stenton a few weeks ago, the far bank is completely wrecked and the trees will soon be dead. It looked like something out of a cartoon.

 

[John Gryphon]

Where does one get a beaver from in the UK so as to illegally release it?

There was also an illegal release in Perthshire

 

[Swedish]

By the thread title I was expecting some sort of 'right of passage' story!

 

[Lampwick]

I remember my first beaver well!! Great Yarmouth many a year ago

 

[lochty]

They're everywhere along the Tay and Almond, also the Ericht and Isla. Even in the centre of Perth on Moncrieffe Island. Becoming a real pest and causing lots of damage, but enviro mentalists think they're useful. Maybe as a hat, but....

 

[NullMac]

enviro mentalists think they're useful

That's because they live in Bruntsfield, never leave the city and it isn't their property they are damaging. It is going to be a disaster. Beaver will be in season soon enough

 

[Border]

Shot my first one this year. Just a young one.

 

[Island]

They're everywhere along the Tay and Almond, also the Ericht and Isla. Even in the centre of Perth on Moncrieffe Island. Becoming a real pest and causing lots of damage, but enviro mentalists think they're useful. Maybe as a hat, but....

And the Teith and Forth, possibly the Endrick as well...

 

[JockStalk]

There was also an illegal release in Perthshire were they are spreading quickly and cause real problems for many farmers. These have now been given protected status

About time.
Farmers should have been given protected status long ago.

 

[slider]

Where does one get a beaver from in the UK so as to illegally release it?

Illegally trapped and transported from where they have been legally released

 

[JTO]

Someone will have them on their bucket list.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Oh go on then..

 

[Dunwaters]

Someone will have them on their bucket list.

Me, I had 2 shots and seem to have missed both, first at less than 100M swimming, second at 2 M diving.
I have no explanation for either failure.
It was a source of great hilarity back at breakfast.
Since I’d been up at 0300 and sleep deprived, I maintained a dignified silence, had a beer and trotted off to bed til they got over it.
I’ll be back.

 

[John Gryphon]

Shot my first one this year. Just a young one.

Did you skin for the pelt?
Did you eat any of it.
I looked up "how to eat beaver" but everything was raw so I had to look up beaver recipe`s instead and the meat is ok they say.