Beavers given protected status but shooting under licence still permitted

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The Scottish Government believes in the highest standards of animal welfare – for both wild and domestic animals - and we felt it was high time that beavers enjoyed the same legal protection as other species like bats, dolphins, wildcats and otters.

Impact

“However, we recognise that beavers can have a significant impact on farming, particularly in areas like Strathmore, which is why we have been working closely with farmers and partner agencies to establish management plans, as well as a licensing system for culling when there is no other alternative.”

SNH chief executive Francesca Osowska said: “In readiness for beavers’ protected species status, SNH has been working with a range of partners, including Scottish Government, farmer and conservation bodies, to produce a strategy for beavers’ sustainable future.”

This will include on-farm non-lethal mitigation trials which are due to begin soon.

An SNH report published in October 2018 estimated about 430 beavers live in more than 100 active beaver territories on Tayside.

A 2012 survey estimated beaver numbers across the region at about 150 beavers in 40 territories.

Many farmers with beavers on their land believe this is a considerable underestimate.