Support claimed for Scottish beaver reintroduction plans

By David Miller

BBC Scotland environment correspondent

Most Scots support the reintroduction of beavers to the country, according to the findings of an opinion poll.

A five-year trial reintroduction of the species at Knapdale in Argyll is due to end next month.

It will then be up to the Scottish government to decide if beavers should have a future in Scotland. An announcement is due next year.

The YouGov poll, commissioned for the Scottish Beaver Trial, suggests 60% of Scots back the reintroduction of beavers - 5% were opposed.

Support was higher, at 74%, amongst those already aware of the issue.

Eurasian beavers taken from Norway were released at Knapdale in 2009.

Continued

Giant skate: Powys angler David Griffiths' 107kg fish

An angler who landed a giant skate after a 90-minute struggle says it followed a "classic Jaws moment". 

David Griffiths, from Powys, hauled the 107kg (16st 12lb), 2.3m (7ft 6in) fish to the surface off Oban, Argyll. 

He said it broke the British record by about 3.6kg (8lb), but it was not official because it was not weighed on a quay or bank. 

Clicks of the rod's reel after a quiet day were the first clues to the fight ahead, but he ended up putting it back. 

After about 30 minutes it was within 100ft of the surface but then decided to go back down - it was a real battle” 

David Griffithsangler 

Mr Griffiths, a fishing book publisher from Sarn, near Newtown, said it took four people to lift the skate onto the fishing vessel Laura Dawn II during a trip with friends and his 12-year-old son William. On the same trip William landed a 51kg (113lb) skate. 

He said it was only the second time he had been skate fishing and normally stuck to rivers. 

"It was about halfway through the day and I had caught nothing. Then there was a click, click, click of the rod's reel - it was a classic Jaws moment," Mr Griffiths said. 

"The boat's skipper Ronnie Campbell told me to put my harness on and standing up I secured the end of the rod into what's called a butt pad. 

"The skate has a suction pad and was stuck to the sea bed 500ft below. After about 30 minutes it was within 100ft of the surface but then decided to go back down - it was a real battle." 

Mr Griffiths did not let his opponent off the hook and after an hour-and-a-half he and three friends lifted the fish onto the boat during their trip on 2 April. 

Read on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22249724

Surprise – Beavers fell trees near the water’s edge - £2 million well spent

SNH publishes new report on the effect of Argyll beavers on woodland 

April 2013. The latest report on the effect of beavers on woodland has been published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), part of the ongoing monitoring work on the Scottish Beaver Trial. 

A group of European beavers was reintroduced to Knapdale forest near Lochgilphead in 2009. The five year scientific trial is run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, on land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. Since their release, SNH has been closely monitoring the beavers, and their effects on the environment, in partnership with a number of other independent organisations. At the end of the trial, the results of the monitoring work will help the Scottish Government decide on the longer term future of beavers in Scotland. 

The woodland monitoring has been carried out by the James Hutton Institute, who regularly survey 105 vegetation plots that are located around the edges of the lochs where the beavers live and are most active. In November 2011, two and a half years after their release, 13% of trees in the plots were showing signs of beaver activity. Most of these had either been gnawed or felled. As well as feeding on bark, twigs, shoots and leaves, the beavers store felled trees and branches underwater for food in the winter and use them to build their lodges and dams.

Most beaver activity happens near the shore 

Between November 2010 and November 2011, there has been a minor shift in beaver activity to areas further from the waters edge, but the majority (72%) is still within 10 metres of the loch shores. The most intensive gnawing and felling was within 500 metres of active beaver lodges. 

Beavers prefer small trees

The beavers continued to favour trees that were 3-6cm across, although they sometimes felled much bigger trees. So far the results show that the beavers have a strong preference for willow and rowan, and tend to avoid hazel and alder. Other trees in the area are used in proportion to their availability - birch is most often used by beavers but this is because it is the most commonly found tree in the survey area. 

Continued: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/beaver-knapdale013.html

'Near death' otter pup Cally in recovery after being found near Taynuilt

A baby otter which was found close to death in a car park in Argyll on New Year's Day faces a year in captivity before being released into the wild.

The seven-week-old female was found lying motionless, suffering from hypothermia, by a couple in a Forestry Commission car park in Taynuilt.

They took her home and kept her warm until the Scottish SPCA arrived.

The pup, nicknamed Cally, is making a full recovery at the charity's National Wildlife Rescue Centre near Alloa.

Claire Shorthose, auxiliary inspector for the animal welfare charity and a practising vet, responded to the call and immediately administered warmed fluids and glucose.

'Barely alive'

"I had to stop the van to revive her during the journey, but thankfully she pulled through," Ms Shorthose said.

"She was barely alive and in a hypothermic and hypoglycaemic state."

Cally is now feeding herself and said to be growing stronger every day.

She will stay at the centre for at least a year and will then be released into the wild.

Centre manager Colin Seddon said: "Cally has made a remarkable recovery given the condition she was found in.

"It is fantastic Claire was able to bring Cally back to life and she is now doing really well, gaining in weight and strength.

Read on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21027444

Baby Beaver Is Boost to Reintroduced Wild Population

A bouncing baby beaver has joined the ranks of the European beavers re-introduced to the wild in Scotland just a few years ago — a positive sign for the species.

The conservation project, called the Scottish Beaver Trial, began in 2009, with the release of beavers back into the wild in the country, where they had been locally extinct for more than 400 years, according to the program's website.

A total of four beaver families were released into Knapdale Forest in Argyll where they have since built lodges and had young.

Continued:  http://www.livescience.com/24113-baby-beaver-born.html