Scotland’s beaver population has skyrocketed to 1500, helping the environment but raising concerns among farmers about flooding and crop damage.
In Scotland: Wildlife experts are buzzing about the beaver population. It’s estimated that around 1500 of these furry critters are now living in the wild. How cool is that?
Hazel Forrest from the Scottish Wildlife Trust shared that this growth is a big win for nature. Beavers are like nature’s little engineers, building dams that help with flooding and droughts. But not everyone is thrilled. Farmers are worried about the damage these beavers can cause to their crops.
Forrest mentioned that after a successful trial from 2009 to 2014, beavers were allowed to stay and spread out. They’ve been moving mainly from Tayside, and their knack for creating wetlands is a game-changer for other wildlife.
However, some farmers are feeling the pinch. Beaver burrowing and flooding can hurt crop yields, leading to some beavers being controlled under license since they got protected status in 2019. It’s a tricky balance between helping the environment and protecting farmland.
Forrest pointed out that while localized flooding from beavers is a concern, it’s nothing compared to the extreme weather events we’re seeing more often due to climate change. Just look at Storm Babet in October 2023, which left tons of farmland underwater.
Recently, there’s been chatter about illegal wildlife releases, like the four lynx that were let loose in the Highlands. It’s a reminder that not everyone is on board with rewilding efforts, especially when it comes to beavers.
