Beavers set for historic return to Loch Ness 500 years after last recorded sighting
By Animals Correspondent
A landmark project to bring beavers back to the waters around Loch Ness has been given the green light – marking a remarkable return to the Highlands five centuries after the animals were last recorded in the area.
A licence for the historic reintroduction has been granted to charities Trees for Life and Beaver Trust by Scottish Government agency NatureScot, paving the way for at least 15 beaver family groups to be released around Loch Ness over the next three years.
The first releases could take place as early as next month, marking a major milestone for nature restoration in the Highlands.
The Ness Beaver Project aims to establish a healthy, thriving population across the catchment, bringing potential benefits for local communities, wildlife and biodiversity.
Beavers are recognised as powerful natural allies in restoring ecosystems. Their dams and canals can help reconnect rivers, wetlands and floodplains, creating valuable habitats for wildlife while helping landscapes adapt to climate change.
Their activity can also help reduce the impacts of drought, wildfires and flooding.
The licence follows extensive discussions with local communities, which revealed strong public support for bringing the animals back. Trees for Life subsequently applied to NatureScot for permission to release beavers at a carefully selected network of sites designed to establish a connected and sustainable population.
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Alan McDonnell, Trees for Life’s head of nature restoration, said: “Beavers are key allies in tackling the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises facing us all, so this successful result brings real hope for the future. Our thanks go to everyone locally who has taken part in the discussions.
“There has been huge interest from communities and local businesses. Our engagement has been locally focused, with the team meeting people on the ground to listen to their views firsthand."
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, welcomed the decision, saying: “We’re delighted by NatureScot’s decision, and grateful for the invaluable engagement from people who live and work locally. Bringing beavers back to this beautiful place will be great progress for Scotland’s Beaver Strategy, bringing benefits for nature, climate and people.”
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Credit Trees for Life
A remarkable 500-year homecoming
Beavers were hunted to extinction in Scotland several hundred years ago, before the species began its return through an official reintroduction programme in 2009.
The last widely cited historical record of Scotland’s beavers, dating from 1526-27, places the animals around Loch Ness.
Now, almost exactly 500 years later, the species is set to make a remarkable homecoming, with beavers to be introduced at selected lochs, lochans and rivers throughout the Loch Ness catchment.
The precise release locations will be announced once the animals have been safely relocated, allowing them to settle into their new homes without disturbance.
Trees for Life's locally based beaver management officer and staff from Beaver Trust will continue working with communities to help people make the most of the animals' return.
Planned activities include citizen science monitoring, research opportunities, support for land managers and educational events. A dedicated monitoring and mitigation group will also be established.
The beavers will be relocated to the Loch Ness area from elsewhere in Scotland, helping establish a new population in one of the country's most promising landscapes for the species.
