Beaucoup de Beavers

Last October we tried to spot the Knapdale beavers near the Crinan canal but had no luck. They’ve been introduced back into the wild in Scotland, including at Loch Lomond. Recently in Pitlochry I saw lots of evidence of beavers, mainly sharp angular toothmarked gouges on riverside tree trunks and pointed stumps of trees. A few weeks ago we were camped near the River Loire in France and we saw similar evidence. Then what should we see in a nearby pond but loads of beavers! All swimming about and unfazed by us. These photos were taken with my medium lens.

There were lots of holes in the banks of this offshoot of the Loire. Beavers create channels and dams, this was one of their channels.

This beaver was on an opposite bank, gnawing away on a log.

In this next photo you can see its strong front teeth protruding out.

This one was perched on a wee platform made of twigs. There were loads of these wee platforms, some quite big, with two or three beavers settling on them.

Beavers benefit the environment and people as the channels, dams and wetland habitats they create hold water back after heavy rain, releasing it slowly and therefore preventing sudden downstream floods. The wetland habitats help other species thrive. They also help clean water as the ponds they create trap sediment and act as water filters.

The french word for beavers is “castors”. We were chuffed to have been out a walk and to come upon them quite unexpectedly. Perhaps in a few years time they’ll be quite a common sight in Scotland too.