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Devon beavers can stay

They're back fur good

After popping up unexpectedly five years ago only to be threatened with removal, England’s first wild breeding population of beavers for 400 years has been given the permanent right to remain. They'll be no eviction for the outsized rodents. They're back fur good!

Beavers were driven to extinction in the UK more than four centuries ago as they were hunted for their meat, fur and castoreum – a highly prized secretion used in medicine and perfumes. In 2013, a family of the semi-aquatic rodents – which can grow to more than 20kg and live on an exclusively vegetarian diet (they do not eat fish) – were found to be living on the River Otter in East Devon. No one knows how they turned up.

Defra's decision about the beavers is considered a landmark one, as it's the first legally sanctioned reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England. It means that the beaver population, which is estimated to consist of up to 15 family groups, is now secure.

Nearby, at Escot House, they're reintroducing wolves. At the moment, they're securely caged. It could be the start of a number of previously extinct species being brought back to Devon. Whatever next for the Jurassic Coast?

Thursday's announcement comes after the successful completion of a five-year trial overseeing the animals led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust. In February the project published a report overseen by independent researchers from the University of Exeter that concluded that the beavers’ presence had brought benefits to people and wildlife living along East Devon’s River Otter.

Key findings highlighted how:

  • Other wildlife – especially fish, insects, birds and endangered mammals such as water voles - had greatly benefitted from the beavers’ presence because of the ways in which beavers enhance wetland habitats.
  • The beavers’ dam building activities had also helped reduce the risk of flooding to some flood-threatened human settlements. The positive role that beavers could have in improving water-quality, with their dams acting as filters which trap soil and other pollutants from surrounding farmland. 

The report noted some localised problems for a small number of landowners where beavers were present, but that these had been successfully managed with support and intervention from Devon Wildlife Trust.

Peter Burgess, Director of Conservation at Devon Wildlife Trust, said:“This is the most ground-breaking government decision for England’s wildlife for a generation. Beavers are nature’s engineers and have the unrivalled ability to breathe new life into our rivers and wetlands. Their benefits will be felt throughout our countryside, by wildlife and people. At Devon Wildlife Trust we’ve worked hard with our partners and local communities along the River Otter over the past five years to see what impact beavers have had. In that time their population has grown steadily so that they have successfully colonised nearly all of the river’s catchment. As their numbers have grown so has local people’s awareness and appreciation of them. We’re delighted that these beavers have now been given leave to stay permanently.” 

In 2014, with local community support, Devon Wildlife Trust and a partnership including the University of Exeter, Clinton Devon Estates and the Derek Gow Consultancy, successfully secured  a license from government which would allow the beavers to stay and be studied over a five-year period. This license established the River Otter Beaver Trial which ran until August  2020. Today’s decision that the beavers can remain permanently in their Devon home is based on evidence submitted by the Trial.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Mark Elliott has led the charity’s beaver work since its beginnings in 2010. He said: “Our rivers and wetlands really need beavers, and this is brilliant news. Those of us involved with the Trial have seen just how critical beavers are for restoring more naturally functioning rivers, which will be so important during the ecological and climate emergency that we now face. Naturally functioning rivers support healthy fish populations and also protect us from the extremes of weather that can bring so much misery to communities that live in floodplains, and to those suffering from acute water shortages in summer.

Whilst this announcement by Defra is very welcome, it’s now vital that decisions are made on the national status of beavers that allows them to be reintroduced into other river systems in England. There also needs to be funding to support landowners who wish to allow beavers to restore wetlands on their land, and to assist landowners who do not wish beavers to affect their farming practices. This is vital if we are to see beavers welcomed back into the English landscape after such a long absence.”

Professor Richard Brazier led the University of Exeter research team which has studied the impacts of the Devon beavers. Prof Brazier said: "The outcomes of our 5 year study demonstrate the wide range of positive benefits that beavers can bring. These include flood attenuation, water quality improvement, carbon storage, greater biodiversity and socio-economic benefits to local businesses through wildlife tourism.  We show that any conflicts can be managed swiftly and efficiently and also that the benefits of beavers far outweigh any costs associated with their management. Finally, our research illustrates that the overwhelming majority of society would like to see this native species return to our waterways."

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts said: “Now we need to see the Government produce a national beaver strategy which will provide a roadmap for their future across the rest of the country. Bringing beavers back where they belong is part of a bigger story. The Wildlife Trusts aim to put at least 30% of our land and sea aside for nature’s recovery by 2030 – creating more space for nature, and protecting and connecting those areas to bring our wildlife back.”


 

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