SCOTTISH BEAVERS

Let's hope they make the position of the beavers secure so that no more are killed. There are measures that landowners can take to protect their trees and river banks that don't involve shooting on sight!

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/article/position-statement-the-future-of-beavers-in-scotland/

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/article/beavers-back-for-good/

The two lead partners in the Scottish Beaver Trial – the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) – have warmly welcomed today’s (21 November 2016) announcement from the Scottish Government that the Eurasian beaver is to be formally recognised as a native species, 400 years after being hunted to extinction in the UK.

Returning beavers to Scotland’s lochs and rivers is the first formal mammal reintroduction in UK history. Today’s announcement is a major success story for conservation, and the culmination of nearly two decades’ work.

The project partners are delighted to be given the green light to reinforce the existing population in Knapdale, Argyll, and welcome the news that the established population on the River Tay will be allowed to remain in place.

A decision at last and now it will be illegal to shoot them, and there will be guide-lines in place to deal with any problems that arise. It has taken the Scottish executive twice as long as they predicted at first.

I believe there will be a beaver centre opening where guided tours will be available. I do hope the beavers co-operate batter than they did when we went up there!

It's very welcome news, isn't it, elegran? I think we might need another trip to Knapdale next year.

We must plan for another lunch with soop.

Yup, that too!

My son-in-law farms and they have beavers on their land. He's thrilled by them, very happy to give them a home!

Pleased by this decision too.

Now ...how about the return of wolves and bears......

Don't forget the lynx! We'd like a few of those around, too.

A few lynx would cut down the red deer population, which have no predators (except man) and now are so numerous that they browse young trees before they can replace the aging old ones. They would catch the old and weak first, so doing exactly what professional human culling does.

The thought of wolves being reintroduced fills many people with horror - in fact they would do much the same as the lynx. Contrary to popular story books, they don't gather in enormous packs to seek out human prey.

As well as severely slowing dow the regeneration of native forests, the Scottish deer population explosion also means that in severe winters some of them starve—a horrible way to die even by horrible death standards. Far better for lynx or humans to cull and eat them.

Wolves too. Maybe.

And I was thinking little lads in a Scottish version of the uniform.

Sorry. Didn't mean to de-rail the thread. I am glad they are being brought back.

Candlefran (disclaimer - no beavers, animal or human, were harmed in faking this photograph)

Article by Peter Cairns, the conservation photographer, on attitudes to the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland. He laments the "slow progress" but I think slow progress may be the best kind as it allows more time for attitudes to adjust.

Scottish Government formally recognises the Eurasian beaver as a native species.

scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/article/beavers-back-for-good/

I'm up for another trip to Knapdale via Inveraray.

When the weather is warmer!

Any chance of getting wildlife protection for the poor Haggis ?
Its haggis shooting season again

As a food species they should expect to be hunted. It's OK though, a friend's son works for a Scottish butcher and has spent many a long hour over the past weeks in the back shop, making sure their numbers have increased enough to save them from extinction this January. Too many long hours, in his opinion, he has gone right off haggis, but it made a change from all the steak pies he made for New Year.

Haggis. not beavers! Just seen that all of my previous post that was visible in the "last hour" list was "As a food species they should expect to be hunted". Beavers were once hunted for food, and very nutritious it was too, particularly the fat tail, but not any more.