The Beavers are back!

[Phogfan86]

Scotland has beavers for the first time in 400 years.

Not quite sure how I feel about this. I love nature, and I love watching animals when they don't know they're being watched, but this might threaten the fishing industry, longterm. And in an homage to Jurassic Park, I have to wonder how an ecosystem that's gotten used to not having beavers around will react.

They're baaaaaaaaaack...

[MichiScot]

Can't do nearly the damage the rabbits did down under. They may actually help some species of game fish.

[JolyStNicholas]

I read the entire post carefully. It sounds to me they have a well planned research study for this experiment. I believe man has caused more damage to his ecosystem than any natural creature ever could.

Lets just see how this turns out and see how the press handles it after the initial excitement wears off.

[JSFMACLJR]

Having spoken with a number of Highland landowners, I can tell you the project is not looked upon as a "good thing" by many of them!

Interestingly, my crest is a beaver sejant!

[puffer]

Interestingly, my crest is a beaver sejant!

Can you PM me with more info on the above ????

Puffer

[puffer]

IMHO, introducing BEAVER into your ecosystem, may seem like a "NEAT" IDEA, BUT???

Beaver are one of the "FEW" animals that actually "ENGINEER" their physical environment to meet their needs. The dams create the "ponds" that provide
1. Protection from predators
2. The "local" for their "Lodges"
3. Maintaining water levels
4. movement & transportation.
5. ETC

Positive aspects of the Dams/ponds
1. Create "wetlands" that support other "creatures ( some fish species, frogs,aquatic birds, etc

Negative aspects
1. Flooding of both productive land ( farm land etc) & wild life feeding/living habitat.
2. Destroys some fish habitats & breeding grounds ( such as Trout & Salmon)
3. Destroy some forest species via flooding & usage for food & construction.
4. Create breeding grounds for "skeeters"
5. They are "rodents" & breed + are hard to "constrain"
6. ETC

Note - I am NOT a "Biologist" My thoughts above, are from Practical experience & observations.I live in the PNW ( the NW corner of the continental USA & one of the "centers of the Historical Fur Trade )
1. Our family has "lived" with Native Beaver, literally in our back yard ( on our family property) for over 100 yr.s
2. Numerous friends, that have had to "put up" with them.
3. Involved with the state's Fish & Wild life Dept.
4. Several acquaintances who are "trappers" ( It is still legal for Licensed trappers to "harvest" in our State ( WA)

IMHO, Introducing a "Species" back into the involvement, can be VERY IFFY & have far reaching & unexpected consequences.( often NEGATIVE)

Puffer

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Yes, just look what happened when Hermann Goering decided to get out of the raccoon coat business...

[Wompet]

It looks like a well-thought out reintroduction of a native species, albeit a native that has been absent for awhile.
Time will tell how it turns out, but

And in an homage to Jurassic Park

that phrase made this pop into my head:
"After the break on 'Primevil' - 'Cutter, there are reports of an anomaly in Argyllshire; witnesses report seeing giant beavers.'"

[JolyStNicholas]

I'm trying to imagine how it would be if man had not totally killed them all off in Scotland to begin with, then they would not to be re-introduced.