Beaver news

[Fishnut]

In amongst all the awful news there has been a quiet success story taking place across the UK. Beavers are making a comeback!

In Scotland, they're now numbering around 1,000.

A pair introduced into Derbyshire last year are settling in nicely.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust announced just yesterday that a kit had been sighted at Hatchmere Nature Reserve, making it the first beaver to be bred in Cheshire in over 400 years.

A pair were released in Enfield in March, though unfortunately the male has since died of natural causes.

Beavers are thriving on the river Avon near Bath.

As of 2020, around 15 families were living in the river Otter in East Devon.

And they're not just cute - they have valuable ecosystem benefits. Flooding has significantly reduced on a river near Truro since beavers were introduced 5 years ago.

If you want to learn more about British beavers, the FSC have a free online talk on Friday 26 August.

[tom p]

I'm gutted about the Enfield beaver. I love the river they were released into

[Grumble]

Great news about beavers. Is there any concern about the state of pollution in our rivers impacting future beaver releases? I mean, presumably the plan is to expand in future.

[Fishnut]

Great news about beavers. Is there any concern about the state of pollution in our rivers impacting future beaver releases? I mean, presumably the plan is to expand in future.

I can't find any generalised info - I think at the moment releases are only taking place in rivers with good water quality but as populations expand it may become more of an issue. The river Otter has been the focus of a lot of research as wild population was found there in 2008 and after outcry against the government who wanted them removed, a five-year study took place to determine the impacts they had.

The scientists also found that the beavers played a significant role in filtering pollutants including manure, slurry and fertilisers from the river,

While sewage discharge into the river are a concern, they are at less risk than other occupants,

The Devon Wildlife Trust has confirmed that it is monitoring the beaver population to see if there is a detectable impact from recent incidents of sewage pollution – but a spokesman told the Herald other species of wildlife have suffered much greater harm.

He said: “Beavers are large, mobile and robust animals, and while they spend large amounts of time in the river, their food sources are on land – namely bankside trees, grasses and other plants. This means they are not necessarily the best indicators of the full seriousness of pollution incidents.

“Pollution has a bigger and more immediate impact on other river wildlife. The diversity and numbers of aquatic insects, fish and molluscs in the river will have suffered. In turn this will impact other wildlife which feeds on them, including kingfishers and otters.”

He added that pollution from sewage and other sources is a particular worry in the River Otter because it is undoing the environmental benefits the beavers have brought.

[DrTf]

More "beavers can do anything" news

[individualmember]

Obligatory beaver joke

[Bird on a Fire]

More "beavers can do anything" news

Hurray for beavers!

Fantastic to see you btw, hope you're keeping well

[Fishnut]

I'm a little late to this, but after a last-minute attempt by the government to stop it, legislation has been announced to give beavers legal protection in the UK.

[Gfamily]

I'm a little late to this, but after a last-minute attempt by the government to stop it, legislation has been announced to give beavers legal protection in the UK.

The NBU, which is concerned about the effect farmers can have on land use - particularly flooding - said it had wanted to see a management plan drawn up before legislation was introduced.

Stripy McStripeface, the NBU's president, said: "It is unacceptable that the government has pushed through this legislation at the last minute before summer recess with absolutely no detail and vague platitudes that there will be a management plan published in 'due course'.

"It is imperative that Defra now brings plans forward to manage farmers and their potential impact as soon as possible."

[Fishnut]

A beaver walks into a pub

[Bird on a Fire]

A beaver walks into a pub

Hahaha brilliant

[Boustrophedon]

Obligatory beaver joke

I always thought that they should have continued with: And now for our English audiences, 'Nice p.ssy...'

[Fishnut]

Drone photos show ‘incredible’ impact of beavers during drought.

[Bird on a Fire]

Drone photos show ‘incredible’ impact of beavers during drought.

That's very impressive, thanks.

I think what's really being shown there is the importance of wetland restoration. A broad riparian buffer - say 100m of natural vegetation either side of all rivers - would do a lot to reduce droughts and flooding. It just so happens that beavers are pretty much the only people doing large scale freshwater wetland restoration in the country at the moment.

Turning grazing land into carbon-sink water-storage devices ought to be the country's main land-use priority IMHO.

[Grumble]

Drone photos show ‘incredible’ impact of beavers during drought.

That's very impressive, thanks.

I think what's really being shown there is the importance of wetland restoration. A broad riparian buffer - say 100m of natural vegetation either side of all rivers - would do a lot to reduce droughts and flooding. It just so happens that beavers are pretty much the only people doing large scale freshwater wetland restoration in the country at the moment.

Turning grazing land into carbon-sink water-storage devices ought to be the country's main land-use priority IMHO.

Not only this country. Read an article about coastal salt marsh/wetland restoration in Australia this morning which sounded great, helping the Great Barrier Reef as well as other benefits. I don’t know if there’s a marsupial equivalent to beavers though.

[Fishnut]

Beavers are returning to Dorset!

Also - the Environment Agency is looking to hire beaver specialists - in case anyone's looking for a new job.

[jimbob]

It's amazing how much less resilient we have made so many landscapes.

Not just those watercourses in Devon before the beavers, but moorland too. In 2018, I was in the Southern Pennines and walking between areas where Moors for the Future had been working to re-establish the wetland by blocking drainage ditches etc and where they were still managed for grouse shooting was eye-opening.

As well as being far more resistant to fires.

[Herainestold]

I lived for a while in Canada. Beavers are considered a pest there.

[Martin_B]

I lived for a while in Canada. Beavers are considered a pest there.

Who considers beavers a pest in Canada? Is it perchance loggers and farmers? Maybe city folk who have built nice cabins in the woods but then get upset when their land gets flooded in winter because of the dams?

[bjn]

I’ve also lived in Canada and i do not recall anyone cursing beavers.

[Gfamily]

I’ve also lived in Canada and i do not recall anyone cursing beavers.

Could just be Canadians being y'know, Canadian about aboot them

[Herainestold]

Beavers chew down big trees, which take decades to grow, in places like city parks. They also cause flooding and roads are sometimes flooded out .
I think it is still legal to trap them, but seems to be seldom done.
It was years ago, maybe they are not a problem anymore.

[bjn]

I’ve also lived in Canada and i do not recall anyone cursing beavers.

Could just be Canadians being y'know, Canadian about aboot them

Quebecers were partial to a good swear. Tabernac!

[Stephanie]

Beavers chew down big trees, which take decades to grow, in places like city parks. They also cause flooding and roads are sometimes flooded out .
I think it is still legal to trap them, but seems to be seldom done.
It was years ago, maybe they are not a problem anymore.

don't piss over the fun beaver thread, jesus. go be a misery in the other threads

[headshot]

H is always such a colossal beaver on this forum.