Frequently Asked Questions
Why are beavers being reintroduced in Scotland? What are the benefits of the Trial to the local environment? The Scottish Beaver Trial raises many questions due to the iconic nature of beavers as ecosystem engineers.
The foundations of the Scottish Beaver Trial are built upon vast amounts of research into beaver ecology. Beaver reintroductions have successfully taken place in 24 European countries and during the Scottish Beaver Trial, new and original data will be collated to provide further information about the impact of beavers on the local environment - as well as the local economy.
We have compiled our research and put together a series of answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Scottish Beaver Trial. Click on the links below to find out more about the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland.
About the Scottish Beaver Trial
- Why reintroduce the beaver to Scotland?
- How do we know that beavers were once in Scotland?
- What is the purpose and aims of the beaver trial?
- How long is the Scottish Beaver Trial?
- Where have the beavers come from?
- How many beavers have been released and what has happened to them?
- How were the animals transported to the site?
- During the quarantine period, what were the beavers tested for and what were the results?
- How is the Trial managed?
- What is the role of Scottish Natural Heritage?
- How much will the project cost and where is the money coming from?
- What are the benefits to the local population?
- What is the European experience of beaver reintroductions?
- What happens at the end of the trial?
- What are the success criteria for the trial?
- How can you help?
- What else is happening with beavers in the UK?
Environmental impact of beavers
- Will the beavers cause a lot of environmental damage?
- What impact will the beavers have in Knapdale Forest?
- What is the conservation status of Knapdale Forest and will species in the area continue to be safeguarded?
- How will the Trial measure the environmental impacts of beavers?
- Will the beavers cause damage to farmland and the wider countryside?
- Do beavers pose a flooding threat?
- Will there be compensation for damage?
- What impact will the beavers have on migratory fish?
- What impact will the beavers have on water quality and hydrology?
- How will you track released animals?
- What will happen if beavers stray outside the Trial area?
- Will the beaver population get out of control as they have no natural predators?
- Do beavers transmit disease?
