More beavers released near River Spey
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Another family of beavers are settling into their new home having been released besides the upper stretches of the River Spey.
The creatures were let out into the wild yesterday as part of co-ordinated efforts to re-establish them in the Cairngorms following an absence of 400 years.
The release at the Insh Marshes nature reserve, near Kingussie, follows two similar events during December where beavers were set loose at other points on the river.
Grant Moir, who's CEO of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: "We’re very pleased to see beavers being released at more locations and that everything is going according to plan.
"Those released so far are settling in well to their new surroundings.
"Anyone who has visited the Insh Marshes nature reserve will know how ideally suited this location is to the species.
"Over the coming weeks and months our dedicated beaver officer and ranger service will be working with landowners to keep a close eye on the beavers and their wider habitat.
"This includes monitoring of water levels, use of camera traps to directly monitor beavers and mapping field signs of activity.
"I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank everyone who has been involved, particularly the Cairngorms Beaver Group and neighbouring land managers.
"We recognise that beavers will bring change to the landscapes of the national park and will continue to work closely with our partners and local stakeholders to maximise benefits and minimise negative impacts."
The park authority was granted a licence late last year by NatureScot to bring beavers back to the Cairngorms.
Karen Birkby, RSPB Scotland’s site manager for Insh Marshes, said: "Seeing beavers return is a major moment for the nature reserve and will help us achieve the long-term vision of restoring the river Spey and floodplain for nature and people.
"While it’s unlikely we’ll see much of the beavers apart from on the remote monitoring cameras, we are looking forward to seeing the benefits they bring to other wildlife and the wetland habitats in the future."
