Frequently Asked Questions:

Are Beavers a Native species in the UK?

The Beavers on the River Otter are almost certainly a species called 
the “Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)" that were native in Britain until they 
were hunted to extinction around the time of Henry the Eighth in the sixteenth Century
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a separate species not native in Europe or Asia.

Where do the Otter Beavers come from?

Although beavers were present in England for thousands of years the origin 
of the beavers on the Otter is unknown.
They may have escaped from a private collection or Zoo or they may have
been deliberately and illegally released.

How long have the Beavers been living on the Otter and how many are there?

We don’t know exactly. There have been many reported sightings over the 
last decade.
“Beavers On The Otter” are putting together
a database of recorded sightings, along with the dates and locations.
We need to build up a scientific record of the history of the beavers
so that any future action or intervention in there is carried out in
an informed manor  

Are the beavers dangerous to the public?

Beavers (like any wild animal) should not be
closely approached or handled as there behaviour may be
unpredictable. They are shy, nocturnal creatures and are unlikely to
be a threat to humans if left undisturbed.

Do the Beavers have a legal right to be on the Otter?

On 28th January 2015 Natural England issued a licence for a 5 year trial 
to assess the impact of the wild bevers living wild on the river Otter

Can they stay where they are?

Hopefully they can. Devon Wildlife trust have a licence to carry out a 5 year 
trial on the Otter. 

Do people want them to stay?

Yes they do:
A petition launched in July 2014 had reached
12,500 signatures by mid October 2014
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-free-beavers-of-england

A meeting to help decide the future of the beavers was held in Ottery St Mary  
on 19th August 2014. It was attended by about a hundred people and there was 
overwhelming support for the beaver population.

At the full council meeting on of Ottery Town
Council on  Monday 1st September 2014 there was a unanimous vote
among town councillors for the Department for the Environment Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra) to leave them be.

Wont they eat the fish stocks ?

No they wont, Beavers are vegitarians and do not eat fish. 
Beavers are geneally good for fish. 
They create a wide range of extra habitats within river systems. 
They increase the number of invertibates present in the water, create ponds, riffles 
and other features. 
They also reduce the amount of sediment coming down the river.
Beavers typically have a positive impact on fish populations by maintaining
river levels and water flow as well as creating new spawning pools.
In times of drought beaver pools act as significant fish refugia.

Wont the beavers build dams?

Beavers feel safe in water and will only build dams if they feel they
need to raise the water level to suit their needs. This may be to
ensure they have enough water around their lodge to safely access
through underwater entrances or to increase water access to food
resources. Eurasian beavers will only build dams in small water
courses.  It hasn’t been an issue on the river Otter and we dont
anticipate that it will be. The problems people associate with
beavers building dams and causing problems are normally due the The
North American beaver (Castor canadensis) this is a separate species
not native in Europe or Asia.

Is there any precedent to let them stay – has it been tried before?

There is a population of beavers living wild on
the river Tay in Scotland. In 2012 the Scottish Government decided to
monitor the Tayside beaver population until early 2015. The results
of this monitoring will be provided to the Minister of Environment along 
with the results of the official Scottish beaver trial to aid the decision 
as to the future of beavers in Scotland.

Are the Otter Beavers connected with the Devon Beaver Project?

There is no connection between the “Devon Beaver Project” 
and the wild Beavers living on the River Otter. 
The Devon Beaver Project is located in Mid Devon and is run by Devon Wildlife
Trust with the assistance of various other organisations. Devon Wildlife trust 
coordinate the scientific monitoring being carried out.

Do beavers carry many diseases and parasites

Beavers are very unlikely to cause any increased disease risk to humans, livestock or wildlife.
Beavers may carry native diseases similar to other mammals and rodents 
in the UK 

DEFRA is concerned that the beavers could act as a transmission route for 
other wildlife and potentially humans or domestic dogs for a parasite called 
Echinococcus multilocularis (EM).
However as the beavers almost certainly came from a UK private
collection or zoo they cannot have EM – only wild beavers captured
and imported from certain central European countries can harbour this
condition Beavers are very unlikely to cause any increased
disease risk to humans, livestock or other wildlife.

Why do the Beavers have to be trapped?

Natural England granted a licence for the beavers to remain on the Otter 
It would is a condition that a trapping and health screening programme is carried out. 
This would include testing for a range of native and non-native diseases and parasites. 
It is essential for the well being of the beavers that they are released back onto 
the river as quickly as possible once the screening has been carried out

Should Beavers be reintroduced in England?

Yes. Beavers are a native species in England and
most people would like to see them back in their former territories.

Trials have shown that areas with beavers introduced have greater biodiversity.   
The beavers produce new and expanded wetlands. 
Their activities improve water quality and minimise the impacts from 
high or low water flows.

Where can I see Beavers ?

Click here to be taken to the page "Where can I see Beavers?"