Some feared they might wreak damage across the countryside, but a study of beavers in Scotland reveals that, while they may be getting a little bolder, they still don't go far.
Between May 2009 and September 2010, 16 European beavers were released into Knapdale Forest near Lochgilphead, Argyll, in five distinct family groups, for a five-year scientific trial.
Nine beaver kits have been born since then. Five beavers have been confirmed to have died and eight are missing from the trial area and are presumed dead, leaving 12 today in four families.
Scottish Natural Heritage has been closely monitoring them, and their effects on the environment, in partnership with a number of other independent organisations.
The latest report shows that in the 12 months up to November 2011, there was a minor shift in beaver activity to areas further from the water's edge, but that 72% was still within 10 yards of the loch shores.
The most intensive gnawing and felling was within 500 yards of active beaver lodges.
At the end of the trial, the results of the monitoring work will help the Scottish Government decide on the longer term future of beavers in Scotland.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article