FAQ: Will the beavers cause damage to farmland and the wider countryside?
Evidence from Europe shows that shows that beaver damage is, in the vast majority of cases, small-scale and very localized. They are not regarded as pests in Europe and where localised problems have occurred; there are a number of well established methods in use including removal of dams, overflow piping, or fencing as one does for deer and rabbits. Some countries with sustainable beaver populations permit seasonal hunting in specified regions.
Should the beavers in the trial cause any damage then Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Royal Zoological Society Scotland (RZSS) both have compensation funds and insurance in place to deal with this.
In the first year of the trial we had one incident of damage, where an itinerant beaver felled approximately 25 small, bankside willow trees on neighbouring land. Many of these trees have subsequently regenerated, but the trial partners also took the step of replacing them with 100 new willows, which was greatly appreciated by the landowner.
Any damage caused by beaver to farmland and the wider countryside surrounding Knapdale Forest is an aspect which will be monitored by Scottish Natural Heritage as part of the independent scientific monitoring programme.
