Science · Beaver restorationRiver Ness beavers: Up to 15 families approved for returnAired October 30, 2026 at 2:16 PM UTCWritten October 30, 2026 at 2:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Up to fifteen beaver families can now return to waters around Loch Ness.0:10They could create wetlands and help moderate floods, but farmers want protection0:14when the animals change how water moves.0:16How will the project make room for wildlife while managing the effects on people's0:19land?0:20Nature Scott has licensed trees for life and the Beaver Trust to release up to0:23fifteen beaver families over three years.0:25That ceiling counts family groups.0:27The total number of individual animals hasn't been announced.0:30NatureScott announced its approval on October30 th.0:33The permission covers agreed sites across the River Ness catchment, the wider area0:37draining into its waters.0:38The project describes beaver, friendly water bodies close to Loch Ness between Fort0:43Augustus and Lochend.0:44That broad stretch gives the setting, while the licensed sites remain undisclosed.0:48The project plans to identify those sites once the animals have been safely0:52released.0:52The permission allows releases at agreed locations across the catchment, so it0:56doesn't put every family directly into the River Ness itself.0:59The setting includes waters around the Loch, where the project sees suitable1:03habitat.1:03Nature Scott identified the River Ness catchment as one of Scotland's most suitable1:07locations for beavers in two thousand and twenty-two.1:10Its assessment concluded that the animals could significantly boost biodiversity and1:14judge the landscape at low risk of negative effects from their activity.1:17Beavers create ponds and wetlands that other species can use.1:21Their activity can also moderate water flows during floods and periods of water1:24scarcity.1:25Those are the benefits the project hopes to restore here.1:27The same changes can affect managed land, including farms, so habitat restoration1:32brings practical decisions about where water goes.1:34A widely cited historical record places Scotland's beavers around Loch Ness in one1:39thousand five hundred and twenty-six and one thousand five hundred twenty-seven.1:42They were hunted to extinction about four hundred years ago.1:45Scotland's first reintroduction came in two thousand nine, making this permission a1:49further geographical step in their return.1:51The old Loch Ness record gives this restoration its roughly five hundred year1:55connection.1:55It records where beavers lived at that point.1:58Their disappearance came later.1:59For the present proposal, Nature Scott assessed the application under the Scottish2:03Code for Conservation Translocations, the country's guidance for moving wildlife for2:07conservation.2:08More than seventy.2:09Three percent of consultation respondents supported the proposal, NatureScott says,2:13that's support among the people who took part.2:15It doesn't tell us what every catchment resident thinks, and land managers and2:19residents also raise concerns about potential effects on farming.2:22Community discussions were planned for September and October2025 .2:26A community event notice dated February11 ,2026 , described strong support alongside2:31farming concerns.2:32It offered a dedicated drop in for farmers and crofters to discuss managing the2:36effects.2:37Support for restoring wildlife and worries about working land were both part of that2:41engagement.2:42Trees for Life's Alan McDonnell calls beavers allies in tackling the climate and2:45biodiversity crises.2:47He says communities and local businesses have shown huge interest, and his team met2:51people locally to hear their views firsthand.2:53Farmers' concerns now carry into the management of the approved project.2:56The applicants have monitoring and mitigation plans.2:59Backed by NatureScott's existing beaver mitigation scheme, these are intended to3:03identify and manage problems as the animals establish themselves.3:06The approval puts those plans in place for a program whose practical effects still3:10lie ahead.3:11Nature Scott's Robbie Kernahan says the agency has assessed those plans and believes3:15potential conflicts can be resolved.3:17That commitment includes a response when beavers harm prime agricultural land and3:21measures to manage the effects have failed or can't be used.3:24The animals will undergo appropriate health screening before release.3:27If they negatively affect prime agricultural land and mitigation fails or isn't3:31possible, they can be trapped and moved under license.3:34Farmers therefore have a route to seek action when problems arise.3:37While relocation remains conditional and requires permission, releases could begin3:42as early as November2026, but a start date hasn't been confirmed.3:46The first confirmed release will establish how many families and individual animals3:50are involved.3:51The project plans to disclose the sites after the beavers have been safely released.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
