Freedom of Information Request - Beavers
Date: 22 November 2024
Our ref: SIR177701/A4832533
Information Request – Beavers
Your Request
1. Between April and October 2024 how many ‘beaver mitigation’ cases have NatureScot logged?
2. In terms of the answer to (1) could you outline the main regions where these cases were identified?
3. Also, in terms of the answer to (1), could you outline the nature of the cases that were logged?
4. Since the reintroduction of beavers in 2009 how many reports of problems caused by beavers have been reported to NatureScot?
Our Response
1.Between April and October 2024 how many ‘beaver mitigation’ cases have NatureScot logged?
Over this period, we logged 82 instances of beaver advice or mitigation. These covered 48 individual properties. This does not include simple enquiries as we do not regularly log these
2. In terms of the answer to (1) could you outline the main regions where these cases were identified?
Of the 82 cases mentioned above, 80 were in the Tay catchment (46 properties) and 2 were in the Forth catchment (2 properties).
3. Also, in terms of the answer to (1), could you outline the nature of the cases that were logged?
Of the 82 cases, 41 cases were for mitigation and 41 cases were for advice.
Mitigation cases were for the primary beaver activity of bark stripping and tree felling (1), burrowing (3) and dam building (37). The impacts of these mitigation cases included bank erosion/collapse (3), compromising infrastructure (25), crop damage/loss (11), garden flooded (1), and tree damage/loss (1).
Advice cases were for the primary beaver activity of bark stripping and tree Felling (11), burrowing (6), dam building (19), and ingress/egress points (1). The impacts of these advice cases include bank erosion/collapse (4), compromising infrastructure (13), crop damage/loss (6), and tree damage/loss (11).
4. Since the reintroduction of beavers in 2009 how many reports of problems caused by beavers have been reported to NatureScot?
We do not hold figures dating back to 2009 as the beaver mitigation scheme was launched in May 2019. Since 2019 we have produced annual reports on our activities, and these are available from our website:
- NatureScot Beaver Licensing Summary - 1st May to 31st December 2019
- Beaver Management Report for 2020
- Summary of beaver populations and licence returns covering the period 1st January to 31st December 2021
- Beaver Management Report for 2022
- Beaver Management Report - January 2023 to April 2024
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
