Scotland’s beaver population has surged to 1500, raising hopes for biodiversity while farmers express concerns over flooding and crop damage
Hazel Forrest from the Scottish Wildlife Trust shared that these furry little engineers are helping tackle climate issues. They build dams that can reduce flooding and drought effects. Sounds great, right?
But not everyone is thrilled. Farmers are worried about flooding and crop damage. They remember the illegal beaver releases from years ago that caused a lot of trouble.
Forrest mentioned that while beavers are beneficial, they can also cause issues for farmers. Since 2019, about 360 beavers have been controlled under license due to these concerns.
Still, she argues that the flooding caused by beavers is minor compared to the extreme weather events we’re seeing more often. Just look at Storm Babet last October, which flooded thousands of acres!
And speaking of wildlife, there was a recent incident with four lynx being released in the Highlands. It raised eyebrows about illegal wildlife releases, similar to the beaver situation.
So, what do you think? Are beavers a blessing or a curse for Scotland? It’s a hot topic for sure!
