Other published work on beavers

We're currently helping to monitor the Scottish Beaver Trial and so we'll publish the reports arising from this work on the monitoring programme page when they're ready. However, we've been involved in studying the issues surrounding a possible beaver reintroduction since 1995 and, as a result, have built up a considerable library of information. The list below will help lead you to some of the main publications.

Our publications on beavers

Armstrong, H M, Poulsom, L, Simson, P, Wilson, J, and Tracy, D (2004). Testing methods for monitoring beaver impacts on terrestrial vegetation in Knapdale. SNH Commissioned Report 26, Battleby.

Collen, P (1997).  Review of the potential impacts of re-introducing Eurasian beaver Castor fiber L. on the ecology and movement of native fishes, and the likely implications for current angling practices in Scotland. SNH Review 86, Battleby.

Conroy, J, and Kitchener, A (1996).  The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Scotland: a review of the literature and historical evidence. SNH Review 49, Battleby.

Gow, D (2002). The transport, quarantine and captive management of European beaver Castor fiber. Unpublished report to SNH by Wildwood, Kent.

Gurnell, A (1997). Analysis of the effects of beaver dam-building activities on local hydrology. SNH Review 85, Battleby.

Kemp, P S, Worthington, T A and Langford T E L (2010). A critical review of the effects of beavers upon fish and fish stocks. SNH Commissioned Report 349, Battleby. 

Kitchener, A, and Lynch, J M (2000). A morphometric comparison of the skulls of fossil British and extant European beavers, Castor fiber. SNH Review 127, Battleby.

Macdonald, D, Maitland, P, Rao, S, Rushton, S, Strachan, R, and Tattersall, F (1997). Development of a protocol for identifying beaver release sites. SNH Research, Survey & Monitoring 93, Battleby.

Morrison, A (2004).  Trial re-introduction of the European beaver to Knapdale: public health monitoring 2001-3. SNH Commissioned Report 77, Battleby.

Reynolds, P (2000).  European beaver and woodland habitats: a review. SNH Review 126, Battleby.

Rushton, S, South, A, and Macdonald, D (2000). Predicting the outcome of a proposed re-introduction of the European beaver (Castor fiber) to Scotland. SNH Research, Survey & Monitoring 153, Battleby.

Rushton, S, South, A, and Lurz, P (2002). Predicting the outcome of a proposed re-introduction of the European beaver Castor fiber at Knapdale, Argyll. SNH Commissioned Report F022AC327, Battleby.

Scott Porter Research and Marketing (1998). Re-introduction of European Beaver to Scotland: results of a public consultation. SNH Research, Survey & Monitoring 121, Battleby.

Scottish Natural Heritage (1998). Reintroduction of the European beaver to Scotland: A Public Consultation. SNH, Battleby. (Note - this document was produced for a previous 1998 national consultation which is now closed).

Webb, A, French, D D, and Flitsch, A C C (1997). Identification and assessment of possible beaver sites in Scotland. SNH Research, Survey & Monitoring 94, Battleby.

PhDs supported by SNH

The following PhD was supported by an SNH-CASE studentship:

• Jones, K. (2006). Ecological effects of the feeding and construction activities of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Scotland: implications for reintroduction. PhD thesis, University of Stirling.

Scottish Natural Heritage is also funding a PhD on the socio-economics of species reintroductions at the moment. The project, which is including an assessment of beaver reintroduction issues, is being undertaken at the Scottish Agricultural College and the University of Edinburgh.

Scientific papers based on our work

The following scientific papers are based, or partly based, on the above Scottish Natural Heritage projects, and/or have been produced by our staff.

• Batty, D (2002). Beavers: Aspen heaven or hell? In: Cosgrove, P, & Amphlett, A (eds) The Biodiversity and Management of Aspen Woodlands: Proceedings of a one-day conference held in Kingussie, Scotland, 25th May 2001, pp. 41-44. The Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan, Grantown-on-Spey, UK.
• Collen, P & Gibson, R J (2001). The general ecology of beavers (Castor spp.), as related to their influence on stream ecosystem and riparian habitats, and subsequent effects on fish - a review. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 10: 439-461.
• Galbraith, C A, & Gaywood, M J (2002). The proposed trial re-introduction of European beaver: The Giardia issue. Environmental Health Scotland 14 (4): 12-13.
• Gaywood, M (2001). A trial re-introduction of the European beaver to Scotland. In: Czech, A, & Schwab, G (eds) The European Beaver in a New Millennium. Proceedings of second European Beaver Symposium, 27-30 September 2000, Bialowieza, Poland. Carpathian Heritage Society, Krakow, Poland.
• Gaywood, M (2005). A proposed trial re-introduction of European beaver to Knapdale. In: Rooney, P, Nolan, P, & Hill, D (eds) Restoration, Reintroduction and Translocation. Proceedings of the 20th Conference of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, 9-11 November 2004, Southport.
• Gaywood, M, Batty, D and Galbraith, C (2008). Reintroducing the European beaver in Britain. British Wildlife 19(6) 381-391.
• Gurnell, A M (1998). The hydrogeomorphological effects of beaver dam-building activity. Progress in Physical Geography 22: 167-189.
• Jones, K, Gilvear, D, Willby, N and Gaywood, M (2003). Felling and foraging:results of the first year of beaver (Castor fiber) activity in an enclosed Scottish site. Lutra 46: 163-172.
• Jones, K, Gilvear, D, Willby, N and Gaywood, M (2008). Willow (Salix spp.) and aspen (Populus tremula) regrowth after felling by the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber): Implications for riparian woodland conservation in Scotland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 19: 43-64.
• Kemp, P S, Worthington, T A, Langford, T E L, Tree, A R J and Gaywood, M J (2011). Qualitative and quantitative effects of reintroduced beavers on stream fish. Fish and Fisheries. (Pre-publication version available online).
• Kitchener, A, & Conroy, J (1996). History of the beaver in Scotland and the case for its reintroduction. British Wildlife 7: 156-161.
• Kitchener, A, & Conroy, J (1997). The history of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber in Scotland. Mammal Review 27: 95-108.
• MacDonald, D W, Tattersall, F H, Brown, E D & Balharry D (1995). Reintroducing the European beaver to Britain: nostalgic meddling or restoring biodiversity. Mammal Review 25:161-200.
• South, A, Rushton, S & MacDonald, D (1999). Simulating the proposed reintroduction of the European beaver (Castor fiber) to Scotland. Biological Conservation 93: 103-116.