On the River Otter: 'Beavers and Business' > The University of Exeter invites business owners/managers in Devon and Somerset to contribute towards the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ by completing a survey to examine the impacts of the presence of beavers on local business.

From the latest East Devon AONB newsletter:

Calling all East Devon Businesses  Has the Beaver re-introduction programme affected your business? The project research team at Exeter University have created a survey and are keen to hear from businesses to learn if they have (or have not) seen impacts (whether positive or negative) as a result of beaver presence.   Responses to the survey are anonymous and participants will be offered the opportunity to see the outcomes when they become available. Businesses within and outside of the river catchment area (the Otter and tributaries) are encouraged to respond so that comparisons might be drawn. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and will be open until the end of 2018. Businesses only please. To contact the team directly, please email Roger Auster: rea213@exeter.ac.uk

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The link takes you to the University project:

  
Beavers and Business - A Survey

The University of Exeter would like to invite business owners/managers in Devon and Somerset to contribute towards the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ by completing this short online survey to examine the impacts of the presence of beavers on local business.

The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.
 

Study Information

The multi-organisational ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ was established in 2015 to monitor a free-living population of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) living on the River Otter. Research is being conducted by the various partners, focused in multiple areas and continuing until 2020, following which the UK government will consider the results when making a decision on the future of beavers in England.

Beaver reintroduction is also being considered in Scotland and Wales, with decisions being/to be made by devolved governments.

This survey seeks to understand whether the presence of beavers on the River Otter has affected local businesses positively, negatively or not at all.

The results from this research will be reported on for the end of the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ and for UK government. They will also be reported in a PhD thesis, and perhaps academic papers. Information gained from your participation may be used for any of these but would only be used in a way that would not disclose your identity to others.

You may complete this survey if your business is based anywhere in Devon or Somerset.

Beavers and Business Survey - University of Exeter
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