Why does Scotland have a Beaver reintroduction program but Ireland doesnt?

BargainHunter · 03-10-2010 10:12PM #1

Ive been following the Beaver re-introduction program in Scotland on http://blog.scottishbeavers.org.uk/
And I cant understand how they can have that, and we dont have one here in Ireland. Surely we have just as much wetlands, streams and suitable habitat, as they do.

Anyone got any ideas?

Victor · 03-10-2010 11:04PM

Did we ever have beavers?

Is Ireland suitable? Are there predators to control numbers?

Birdnuts · 03-10-2010 11:13PM

Because it would generate hysteria and ignorance from the usual quarters - just look at the eagle projects:(

LostCovey · 04-10-2010 12:04AM

BargainHunter wrote: »

Ive been following the Beaver re-introduction program in Scotland on http://blog.scottishbeavers.org.uk/
And I cant understand how they can have that, and we dont have one here in Ireland. Surely we have just as much wetlands, streams and suitable habitat, as they do.

Anyone got any ideas?

Victor's points above are really important. The Irish re-introduction programmes were not set up on a whim, or just because the UK had done a similar programme. A lot of research on prey, habitat, breeding sites etc was done first. I would imagine that we have very little suitable habiat for beavers (if we ever had them is an equally valid point.

I think anyone looking at the current situation would invest any resources available in the existing projects rather than spread the jam too thinly trying to take on more species.

LC

Birdnuts · 04-10-2010 12:21AM

LostCovey wrote: »

Victor's points above are really important. The Irish re-introduction programmes were not set up on a whim, or just because the UK had done a similar programme. A lot of research on prey, habitat, breeding sites etc was done first. I would imagine that we have very little suitable habiat for beavers (if we ever had them is an equally valid point.

I think anyone looking at the current situation would invest any resources available in the existing projects rather than spread the jam too thinly trying to take on more species.

LC

Research in this area has indeed thrown up a few suprises, among them is the fact that the likes of Red Deer and Red Fox are not native while Brown Bear and Wild Boar were - wouldn't it be cool..... on second thoughts I won't go there;)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 04-10-2010 08:34AM

Birdnuts, I think your reference to hysteria over the Sea Eagle project is a bit below the belt and unfair. Such generalisations are unhelpful.

That said, we do not have suitable habitat for a Beaver programme. Wetlands are not the primary requirement. Beavers do not build in bog, marsh or lakes. They need wet woodland - which is currently scarce in Ireland The lack of true wilderness and mature/ancient woodland is a barrier to a sustainable Beaver population.

Why does Scotland have a Beaver reintroduction program but Ireland doesnt?

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