1. Why a trial and not a widespread introduction?
Since beavers disappeared from our soils over 400 years ago, many things have changed in the Scottish environment. The trial is to consider beavers within the current Scottish context and provide evidence to support or reject other potential beaver reintroductions elsewhere in
Scotland during or at the end of the trial period.
This trial will decide the future of wild beavers in Scotland.
2. What is different from the beavers we hear about in England?
The beavers in this trial will not be fenced in. They will be radio tagged and brought back to the trial site if they wander, but are technically “wild”. Beavers elsewhere in the UK are in enclosures, although England and Wales are currently considering wild reintroduction projects.
3. Does this mean beavers will be wild across Scotland in the future?
Only time will tell. The trial aims to consider whether beavers can thrive in Scotland and the findings will inform any decision made by the Scottish Government about the future of beavers here.