NatureScot invites landowners to host beavers as population expands across Scotland
Land managers, communities and environmental organisations are being invited to express interest in hosting wild beaver populations, as part of wider efforts to expand the species’ presence across Scotland.
The call from NatureScotcomes amid a period of continued population growth, with beavers now established in six catchments including Tayside, the Forth, Knapdale, Loch Lomond, and the Cairngorms.
Two additional releases have recently been approved in the Beauly catchment.
Scotland’s Beaver Strategy aims to return beavers to suitable areas across the country, while supporting landowners through mitigation and management. NatureScot is now seeking to identify new potential sites, with a focus on areas offering appropriate habitat and demonstrate landowner support.
Dr Jenny Bryce, beaver team manager at Nature Scot, said: “Beavers are ecosystem engineers. They create valuable wetland habitats, help moderate water flows, and improve water quality — all of which support biodiversity and climate resilience. We want to work strategically with interested groups to find the most promising new catchments for reintroduction.”
The invitation does not require fully developed project proposals, but early expressions of interest will help guide planning and resource allocation. The deadline for submissions is November 30, via an online webform.
Anyone with an interest is asked to get in touch via webform by November 30.
Alongside the announcement, NatureScot released its latest Beaver Management Report (April 2024-March 2025), which highlights a shift towards non-lethal approaches. Of the 102 beavers removed from conflict sites, 79 were trapped and relocated — 47 of them within Scotland 30 to licensed projects in England and Wales. Only 23 beavers were culled, a significant reduction from previous years.
A total of 119 dams were dismantled under licence, and 124 mitigation cases were recorded.
A new survey of the Tay catchment is ongoing and expected to confirm continued range expansion.
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