Highland Community Opposes Beaver Reintroduction
- A Highland community is fighting against plans to reintroduce beavers to their area.
- The first wild-born beavers in the Cairngorms in over 400 years have been spotted.
- The community's opposition to the beaver reintroduction is causing controversy in the region.
The Scottish government’s wildlife agency, NatureScot, is considering a proposal to translocate beavers from Tayside to the Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin reservoir, marking a significant expansion of the species' range in the Highlands. This would be the first release by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and the second outside existing beaver territories, following a growing trend in beaver population management. Currently, Scotland is home to an estimated 1,500 beavers across 424 territories, with translocations increasing by 28% in 2022. Local farmers express concerns over the potential impact of beavers on agricultural land, citing risks of flooding and erosion. Martin Kennedy, president of the Glen Affric proposal, highlighted the financial losses experienced by farmers due to beaver activity, including a reported £25,000 in crop damage from flooding caused by beaver dams. Farmers argue that their interests should be prioritized over those of conservationists, especially as beavers have already established themselves in areas like Strathglass without official sanction. FLS has assured that any releases will only proceed after addressing community concerns raised during consultations. The Scottish Government has been supportive of beaver conservation, having protected the species since 2019 and initiated a long-term plan to expand their population. However, the lack of natural predators and limited lethal control measures suggest that beaver numbers will continue to rise, prompting mixed reactions from the farming community, with some expressing willingness to coexist with the animals.