THEY have been called “ecosystem engineers” for their incredible construction skills and are heralded by environmentalists as a potential solution to flooding, wetland loss and a natural aid to biodiversity. 

Hunted to extinction in the early 16th century for their fur, meat and even their scent glands, Eurasian beavers have made a dramatic return to the Scottish countryside over the past decade, and are widely declared to be a “rewilding” success story.

But while conservationists have praised their reintroduction, farmers, who have witnessed the damage the sharp-toothed rodents can do to vital drainage channels and precious land, have been less than complimentary towards Scotland’s revitalised beaver population.

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Until now landowners confronted by flooded fields caused by beavers’ handiwork and damaged river banks have needed no special permission to remove the dams and shoot beavers regarded as causing a nuisance on their land. 

From today, however, new European Protected Species status for the Eurasian beaver in Scotland makes it illegal to destroy beavers’ established dams and lodges without a licence. 

While some controls are still allowed, such as destroying newly constructed beavers’ dams, fencing off areas and reinforcing river banks, any attempt to remove older dams or trap and shoot beavers will require a licence. 

The move, which has been described as a “landmark day” for Scotland’s wildlife, has been met with less enthusiasm from the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS), which has warned it could lead to unexpected consequences as beavers expand further into farmland. 

The organisation has also raised concerns that the move paves the way for the reintroduction of other animals, such as lynx and wolves. 

Initially, just 11 beavers were reintroduced to an area of woodland at Knapdale Forest, Mid-Argyle in 2009. Their numbers have grown to around 30. However, there are around 400 beavers in the River Tay area descended from escaped or illegally-released beavers. 

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Damage caused by the Tayside beavers is said to have cost thousands of pounds a year to repair, while there are fears they have now stretched across 1.2 million acres of land in Perthshire, Angus and Fife. 

In some cases, farmers say beavers have obstructed drainage channels dating from the 17th century, causing saturated fields, floods and ruined crops. Beavers have also felled trees alongside rivers and burrowed to create dens which can lead to the collapse of the river banks. 

Some holes left by beavers have been found to be over one metre deep, raising fears that livestock could become trapped and the collapse of river banks.  Andrew Midgley, NFUS’s environment policy manager, said: “While some people will see the re-introduction of beavers as a positive step forward in advancing the rewilding agenda, NFUS believes the illegal re-introduction of beavers in Tayside actually shines a light on the problems that reintroductions can create.

“Some people will be thinking the problem we have been talking about is minor and won’t be a big deal. Our expectation will be that it will be very significant, and a lot more significant than a lot of people think.”
He added the establishment of beavers in Scotland is “an example of how not to do it, and we are left trying to deal with a problem population in the wrong place. If anything, the example of the beaver should give pause for thought.”

The tight restrictions mean only accredited controllers will be awarded licences to tackle problems created by beavers as a “last resort” solution. 

However, last month there was outrage among some conservation groups when it emerged that the Scottish Government had held training courses for around 100 gamekeepers and landowners who will potentially hold beaver control licences. 

The training involved advice on how to track beavers with dogs, trap them and destroy dams even with young pups inside. 

Once widespread throughout Britain, Eurasian beaver numbers were destroyed by hunters seeking pelt, their meat – regarded as a substitute for fish – and castoreum, a glandular oil found in a sac near the tail and which was prized for its apparent medical properties. 

Jo Pike, chief executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “We accept that land managers need to have the ability to deal with localised negative impacts caused by beavers. However, it is equally important to ensure lethal control is only used as a last resort, and this does not threaten the successful spread of beavers into other areas of Scotland.”

Barbara Smith, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s chief executive, said: “This is a historic day and a milestone for the many of us who have worked together for years on the return of this species.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said Scottish Natural Heritage is to work with farmers and other land managers to develop mitigation measures to reduce beaver impacts. 

She added: “We will look to develop and refine mitigation systems, learning from experience here and elsewhere in Europe and North America on how best to manage beavers.”