Futures Forum: On the River Otter: the beavers are back!
With the national press taking a keen interest:
Rare baby beavers with mother in River Otter | Nature | News | Express.co.uk
It's not all cuddly kits: the University of Exeter has been taking part in studies of the Otter River beavers for some time now:
Research news - Exeter team to monitor impact of wild beavers on our waterways - University of Exeter
And one particular area of study is how reintroductions impact local communities - which is an area of concern beyond the beaver:
Futures Forum: What does 'rewilding' mean for rural communities?
The University is now asking the public to give their opinion about the reintroduction of beavers:
Exeter University asks for views on beaver study
10:25 01 February 2017
A female beaver with her kits. Credit Mike Symes
The independent survey will look at public’s attitudes towards the mammals and the benefits and disadvantages of their reintroduction.
Exeter University is looking for participants in its nationwide study into the impact of reintroducing beavers into the wild. Experts are monitoring the impact of the River Otter beavers and the publics’ attitude towards reintroduction.
Devon Wildlife Trust has been granted a licence from Natural England to keep the beavers in their habitat until 2020. The charity has also shared footage of the beavers, taken by Mike Symes last summer.
The video shows a female beaver with two of her five offspring soon after they were born near Otterton. On average a female beaver will give birth to three young per litter.
Roger Auster, research assistant, at the University said: “There is much debate as to whether the reintroduction should proceed and, if the reintroduction continues, how it should be managed. An independent and impartial study by the University of Exeter is now evaluating public attitudes to beaver reintroduction in Great Britain.”
The university will share its findings with the River Otter Beaver Trial Steering Group,
The survey closes on Wednesday, March 1.
To complete the survey visit: https://beaveropinions.typeform.com/to/r66XxP
Exeter University asks for views on beaver study - News - Sidmouth Herald
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