There are two main concentrations of beavers in Scotland. The first are centred on Knapdale and were part of an official reintroduction project. The second group are based in the River Tay catchment and originated from an escape or unauthorised release. Both groups are now theoretically subject to some of the highest levels of protection that can be afforded to wildlife in the UK.

Appearances however, can be deceptive. It is possible to obtain a licence from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to cull beavers where they are causing a problem and there is no other solution. In theory this is the ‘last resort’ but many conservationists are now suggesting that it is the default response. We are aware of two instances where landowners seeking advice from SNH were simply sent an application form for a licence to cull by return. It seems unlikely that they are the only ones.

Confidence in SNH’s handling of the beaver situation has taken some serious knocks. Things got off to a bad start when they issued a brochure on beavers with a photograph of an otter on the cover. Subsequently there have been reports that SNH staff running a beaver workshop for landowners suggested that beavers might be good to eat or for taxidermy. Perhaps these comments were intended to be jocular but it was an ill advised use of language in a delicate situation. Add to this the fact that over one hundred beavers have now been killed under licence in addition an uncertain number which have been illegally killed. This is hardly the ‘gold standard’ of protection we were promised or had a right to expect.

So concerned have conservationists now become that the charity Trees or Life has commenced an action for a judicial review of SNH’s licensing actions in relation to beavers. They hope to gain a declaration that lethal control must be a genuine ‘last resort’ and not as many currently believe the standard response.

We await the results of the action with interest and in the meantime we wonder at the number of occasions recently when the body charged with protecting the nation’s wildlife has been accused by conservationists of lamentably failing to do so.