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National Trust Scotland backs beaver reintroduction
beaver
"Beavers are a native species to Scotland and having carefully weighted up the pros and cons, the Trust believes that they should be resident here."
Wild beavers have been extinct in the UK for over 400 years

Beavers should be reintroduced to Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has announced.

In a policy statement, the conservation charity said that the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver would see a key element of native fauna returned to its natural ecosystem and support the conservation of existing beaver populations in Scotland.

The statement follows an assessment of work and findings from the recent Knapdale Scottish Beaver Trial and the Tayside Beaver Study Group.

Scottish ministers will decide later this year on allowing beavers to remain in Scotland and if wider reintroductions will take place.

Speaking to BBC News, nature advisor Lindsay Mackinlay said: "Beavers are a native species to Scotland and having carefully weighted up the pros and cons, the Trust believes that they should be resident here.

"We would like to see the existing beavers in Argyll and Tayside managed to permit their natural expansion from these core areas and hope that other licensed reintroductions in appropriate areas will augment the existing populations."

Wild beavers have been extinct in the UK for over 400 years. The Scottish Beaver Trial was the first official project of its kind in Britain and a groundbreaking five year study to explore how beavers can enhance and restore natural environments.

Beavers were released into Knapdale Forest in Argyll in 2009 and have since been busy settling into their new home.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.