Scottish Beavers

[Crex]

Now the thread title has got you all in, you may have noticed the Scottish Beaver Trial have produced their final report (quite a large file, but with some nice pictures)of the trial reintroduction of beavers to Knapdale, Argyll. Are any of our TFFers close to this? Any thoughts on how it went?

I am all in favour of this in principle, unfortunately it is in the practical details where these type of projects seem to flounder. In that regard, the report is very light on what farms/landowners made of the beaver impact, and what effects this would have on farmland/forestry if carried out on a larger scale.

 

[Woolgatherer]

There was a bit about it on landward tonight, which has just finished! You might get it on catch up. The powers that be don't seem to know what they think, one report today I heard said they're talking about increasing the numbers but only a month or so ago they were talking of culling them. I quite like them, but then I'm not farming any land near them......

 

[willie waver]

can you train them to chop your firewood?

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

Top of the TFF forum page headline 'Scottish Beaver' and contributer 'Willie Waver'... Not the content I expected! Doh!

 

[Yale]

 

[grumpy]

i want to see the re introduction of the duckbill platypus them are cute,@FonterraFarmer you have them

 

[bobk]

I thought this was about them Ballingry lasses

 

[Giles1]

The wretched things need no introducing.They exist from Perth right up the Tay system to the west end of Loch Tay and beyond,and up to Loch Rannoch,and other bits of the Tay system.At least one of the b*****ds has chomped a tree across the River Lochay opposite the Killin Hotel,for those who like to do their wildlife watching from a Bar.....Watch this space,£5 million has recently been spent on a woodland scheme planting trees beavers will just love further up the Lochay Glen.No fir type things,proper trees that make half decent firewood when they've shed their leaves,and had a chainsaw through them,except the odd Scotch Pine for the eagles,buzzards and ospreys (and the wife's parrot when I manage to accidently let the evil,vicious wee git escape)to nest in.Expect a beaver population explosion,and a National Outcry when SNH/whatever tree hugging quangos are involved, decide to cull the delightful creatures when they start on that plantation,all for the benefit of the environment of course.Another complete waste of taxpayers money introducing the things,bloody coals to Newcastle.Don't start me on the trams..........

 

[JD-Kid]

i want to see the re introduction of the duckbill platypus them are cute,@FonterraFarmer you have them

Did not know FF lived in ozzie learn something everyday

 

[grumpy]

The wretched things need no introducing.They exist from Perth right up the Tay system to the west end of Loch Tay and beyond,and up to Loch Rannoch,and other bits of the Tay system.At least one of the b*****ds has chomped a tree across the River Lochay opposite the Killin Hotel,for those who like to do their wildlife watching from a Bar.....Watch this space,£5 million has recently been spent on a woodland scheme planting trees beavers will just love further up the Lochay Glen.No fir type things,proper trees that make half decent firewood when they've shed their leaves,and had a chainsaw through them,except the odd Scotch Pine for the eagles,buzzards and ospreys (and the wife's parrot when I manage to accidently let the evil,vicious wee git escape)to nest in.Expect a beaver population explosion,and a National Outcry when SNH/whatever tree hugging quangos are involved, decide to cull the delightful creatures when they start on that plantation,all for the benefit of the environment of course.Another complete waste of taxpayers money introducing the things,bloody coals to Newcastle.Don't start me on the trams..........

fire yer load up beaver

 

[Blaithin]

I enjoy Beavers. They're neat to just sit and watch in an evening. As with everything they have their downfalls but for the most part they're perfectly fine.

Decades ago here they had a massive hate on for beavers. They flood all the pasture land the farmers said; There's less grass for the cows to eat because of them, they said. So they blew up the dams and hunted the beavers. Fast forward 20 years and there was a huge drought here. The last remaining places that had live trees and water for cattle were the beaver's ponds. The amount of grass and land they take up is minuscule really, but the benefit they can do the ecosystem can be huge. Not that Scotland is at risk for a serious drought any time soon... Everywhere can benefit from wetlands though, makes the best fresh water and good bird habitat

Honestly the biggest liability of beavers - besides having that trail you bring your cows home with every year getting blocked by a tree - is they're likely to beat the living snot out of your dog. Every dog seems to think it can take on a beaver, few realize their dream.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Did not know FF lived in ozzie learn something everyday

Ffs, we live on the right side of the Bombay Hills.

i want to see the re introduction of the duckbill platypus them are cute,@FonterraFarmer you have them

I think they be slightly west of here
Hey JD-Kid, you got any lawn Moa's down there?
As for NZ "Beaver", she died in 2010

 

[JD-Kid]

naaaa no moa's here
in fact wee school day WH in maori is spoken like an F (kinda like ph in phone ) so our place is whakamoa yep the PC people ask if thats f#$kamoa some times i feel like saying i have broken a few blades and snaped a disc off but never totaly f#$ked one

 

[FonterraFarmer]

naaaa no moa's here
in fact wee school day WH in maori is spoken like an F (kinda like ph in phone ) so our place is whakamoa yep the PC people ask if thats f#$kamoa some times i feel like saying i have broken a few blades and snaped a disc off but never totaly f#$ked one

Yeah , I'd figured that one out .

 

[grumpy]

Did not know FF lived in ozzie learn something everyday

hmm i

I enjoy Beavers. They're neat to just sit and watch in an evening. As with everything they have their downfalls but for the most part they're perfectly fine.

Decades ago here they had a massive hate on for beavers. They flood all the pasture land the farmers said; There's less grass for the cows to eat because of them, they said. So they blew up the dams and hunted the beavers. Fast forward 20 years and there was a huge drought here. The last remaining places that had live trees and water for cattle were the beaver's ponds. The amount of grass and land they take up is minuscule really, but the benefit they can do the ecosystem can be huge. Not that Scotland is at risk for a serious drought any time soon... Everywhere can benefit from wetlands though, makes the best fresh water and good bird habitat

Honestly the biggest liability of beavers - besides having that trail you bring your cows home with every year getting blocked by a tree - is they're likely to beat the living snot out of your dog. Every dog seems to think it can take on a beaver, few realize their dream.

ahh but im sure your beaver is just perfect

 

[Y Fan Wen]

can you train them to chop your firewood?

One of my sheepdogs felled a western hemlock that was 8 inches at the base. He had once chased a squirrel up this tree and spent the next year gnawing the base, just like a beaver, until it fell down!!!

 

[Landyman]

Got a patterdale here thats fecked in the head, chews through fence posts when stressed, daren,t let him into the wood alone

 

[shearerlad]

Beech tree about 2 feet 6 in diameter which has been chewed by beavers for the past 18 months

 

[Giles1]

View attachment 85880 Beech tree about 2 feet 6 in diameter which has been chewed by beavers for the past 18 months

That's them playing chicken I reckon.

 

[rob1]

I enjoy Beavers. They're neat to just sit and watch in an evening. As with everything they have their downfalls but for the most part they're perfectly fine.

Just about sums up my feelings too