The Scottish Beaver Trial. o Largest rodent in Europe - can grow up to 1.4metres in length o Can live for up to 15 years o Herbivorous – only eat plants.

The Scottish Beaver Trial

o Largest rodent in Europe - can grow up to 1.4metres in lengtho Can live for up to 15 yearso Herbivorous – only eat plantso Sharp, long front teeth for gnawing woodo Crepuscular/nocturnal – coming out at dusk and active over night

What is a beaver?

Why bring back the beaver?

o Legal - Article 22 of the EC ‘Habitats Directive’

o Benefits - public interest, wildlife tourism

o Desire – most people wish to see beavers restored

o Morals - a species lost through human actions

o Environmental – a missing, native ‘keystone species’ in

the ecology of riparian woodlands and wetlands, water

quality

Where is the Beaver Trial?

o West Scotlando Argyll and Buteo Lochgilphead areao Knapdale Foresto A variety of loch sites

Where is the Beaver Trial?

Why Knapdale?o Ecological suitabilityo Working Forestry Commission foresto Natural containmento Majority of respondents supported trial

o Local SNH and FCS offices o Access for field workerso Visitor facilitieso Ongoing management and restorationo SAC, SSSI, NSA & SWT Wildlife Reserve

What is actually happening?

oThe Trial is a partnership between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, with the host partner Forestry Commission ScotlandoThe release licence was granted by the Scottish governmentoAnimals collected from Telemark, Norway, in Autumn 2008oQuarantined for 6 months in Devon, England oTrial period 2009 – 2014oReview by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of the Scottish government

oStudy the ecology and biology of the European beaver in the Scottish environment.

Aims of the Trial

oLook at the effects of beaver activities on the natural and socio-economic environment.

oDetermine the extent and impact of any increased tourism generated through the presence of beaver.

oGenerate information during the proposed trial release that will inform potential further release of beavers at other sites with different habitat characteristics.

oExplore the environmental education opportunities that may arise from the trial itself and the scope for a wider programme should the trial be successful.

The end, any questions?

www.scottishbeavers.org.uk