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Scottish beavers given protected status
"Granting beavers protected status is an important milestone for the return of the species to Scotland’s lochs and rivers."

Charities welcome move that will enable species to expand its range

A new law has come into force in Scotland giving beavers protected status.

The legislation took effect on Wednesday (1 May) making it illegal to shoot beavers and destroy their dams and lodges without a licence. Conservationists say the move is ‘an important step’ to enable the species ‘to expand its range’.

Welcoming the move, Jo Pike of the Scottish Wildlife Trust said that “beavers are unrivalled as ecosystem engineers.”

She added that “granting beavers protected status is an important milestone for the return of the species to Scotland’s lochs and rivers. It follows decades of work by countless organisations and individuals to demonstrate the positive impacts that beavers can have.”

Barbara Smith of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) added: “The granting of European Protected Status is a vital step in welcoming beavers back as a natural part of our ecosystem and a most welcome success as part of wider and continued efforts to protect and enhance our natural heritage.”

Scotland is home to around 450 beavers that live in two separate populations (mid-Argyll and Tayside). Beavers and the dams they build have widespread benefits to the environment, including reducing the risk of flooding and increased biodiversity.

The legislation was first announced by environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham in February. But despite being welcomed by conservation charities, some farmers have expressed concern over the negative impact beaver dams may have on their land.

Adrian Ivory, who manages a farm in Perthshire, told BBC News that he had to destroy his crop after beavers built a dam on a nearby waterway.

"The big problem for us with the dams is that it costs me as a business £4,000-£5,000 a year, pulling dams out of watercourses, trying to sort banks out,”. These are problems that we shouldn't really be having to deal with,” he said.

"We are trying to produce quality food for the population to eat and this is just causing real problems and a cost to my business."

Image (C) Per Harald Olsen/NTNU.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.