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Post by earnfisher on Feb 17, 2017 9:51:47 GMT
Am wondering what others think about beavers. We have had them for at least 15 years and were another interest to look out for. In the last 6/7 years there numbers have greatly increased and the damage they do is all along the river. Out yesterday there were oak trees that are over 200 years old ringed and some felled as well as spruce and every other type of tree. The burrows they make in the flood banks are massive and there slides are every where cutting into the banks. They have in a few short years gone from an interesting animal to a complete menace that needs killed off almost. What do others think. Bob.
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fredo
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Post by fredo on Feb 17, 2017 10:38:53 GMT
I read that approx 200 were shot on Tayside last year! They are an economic disaster for anyone having to live with their actions, and the SG should pay for any damage they do, including the cleaning up. If only the actions of the beavers impacted on the Greens, rewilders, etc. They should never have been given oxygen to promote their warped vision of a future Scotland.
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herbie29
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14 lbs spey spring salmon
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Post by herbie29 on Feb 17, 2017 13:28:10 GMT
I am not saying that beavers should have been reintroduce but it has highlighted man's interference in wild life. If they had not been made extinct in this country would we be having this discussion. You mention flood banks and the damage done to them but if they were not there in the first place then no damage would have been done to them. Until man Learns the lesson that the one thing you can't control is nature. Trying to control waterways is not helping as rivers have always folded out of the banks and changed course but our desire to prevent this and speed water run off is going against nature. Beavers do possibly have positive points by slowing water run off and causing erosion that in turn renews gravel for fish spawning
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Post by sinkingtip on Feb 17, 2017 13:34:38 GMT
I've never been that keen on 'rodents' - full stop ! To me, beavers are simply huge rats. The Tayside beavers certainly seem to be making their presence known along most waterways. The fermers around my area don't seem overly happy about them.
I remember it being mooted by a 'pro' beaver group that "beaver tourism" could benefit the likes of Blairgowrie - aye, right !
What next ? - lynx, wolves, bear ??
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herbie29
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Beavers.
Feb 17, 2017 15:15:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by herbie29 on Feb 17, 2017 15:15:22 GMT
I've never been that keen on 'rodents' - full stop ! To me, beavers are simply huge rats. The Tayside beavers certainly seem to be making their presence known along most waterways. The fermers around my area don't seem overly happy about them. I remember it being mooted by a 'pro' beaver group that "beaver tourism" could benefit the likes of Blairgowrie - aye, right ! What next ? - lynx, wolves, bear ?? Already in the planning with those who think best Andy
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fredo
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Post by fredo on Feb 17, 2017 15:54:59 GMT
The Scotland we now live in is now densely populated compared to other parts of the world where beavers, lynx, wolves, bear and boar survived (without reintroduction). There is now no place for any of them in Scotland as it now exists. The rewilding clowns may have the ear of the current SG, but they have little support from the inhabitants of rural Scotland that derive an income of the land.They may have support from those living in rural Scotland that either work elsewhere or are minted, but should their opinion carry any weight? Not in my opinion.
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Post by earnfisher on Feb 18, 2017 8:28:10 GMT
Herbie. Beavers dams will not help salmon if you think about it but can ruin miles of spawning gravel. As soon as a dam is built the flooded area silts up and it gives the fish something to clear on there journey. As far as tourism goes that is just one big lie. In all the years they have been on the river I have only seen them a few times during the day. There were 2 going about there life one day while I was fishing a pool. Both completely ignored me but there size made me realise how large they are. Were it not for the damage they do and there foot prints on the sand bars you would not know they were there. Flood banks are built to keep the fields from flooding so they can produce food for us all to eat. Would be quite happy to show any one the damage they do and if there are any silver tourists about you are welcome to a cast. Bob
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Post by devronmac on Feb 18, 2017 12:23:34 GMT
I haven't come across these ever whilst fishing and I therefore cannot give an opinion. However I think the first experiment with their reintroduction took place in Knapdale where I lived for three years but that was before the introduction took place. In that location there are few migratory fish holding rivers so the impact was confined to lochs and their feeder streams. I suppose the only good thing in their favour is that they don't eat fish. Our salmon have enough threats to their survival without additional predators.
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herbie29
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Post by herbie29 on Feb 18, 2017 18:21:06 GMT
Flood banks are built to keep the fields from flooding so they can produce food for us all to eat.
Bob
Green has got a lot to do with farms cultivating right up to the sides of rivers in the past this area was utilized for grazing rather than crops but everyone knows better. Now we have food but no place to live as we have been flooded out of our houses. When we had natural flood plains that take large volumes of water there was less devastation from flooding in built up areas and the water drains back as quick as it spilled over the banks but with flood banks if they get overwhelmed the when the water drops it has the opposite effect by preventing the water going back into the river. Just remember if a flood plain floods to 1 foot deep to 150 meters out from the river then if it is contained within a 25 meter wide river then you are talking 6 foot. There are pros and cons to everything
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Post by allysshrimp on Feb 19, 2017 15:45:13 GMT
The Scotland we now live in is now densely populated compared to other parts of the world where beavers, lynx, wolves, bear and boar survived (without reintroduction). There is now no place for any of them in Scotland as it now exists. The rewilding clowns may have the ear of the current SG, but they have little support from the inhabitants of rural Scotland that derive an income of the land.They may have support from those living in rural Scotland that either work elsewhere or are minted, but should their opinion carry any weight? Not in my opinion. Very well put Gordon.
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Post by earnfisher on Feb 21, 2017 8:33:05 GMT
Building on flood banks is agreed one of the problems but only one. All the parts of different rivers I know have filled in from the Clyde to the White Cart. I can see no one reason for this but if you depend on your farm for your income then you will use all the land you have. Beavers are new here and are causing a lot of damage to farm land. The country is a large open air factory not a playground. Bob
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Post by earnfisher on Feb 22, 2017 9:46:50 GMT
Out yesterday and counted the beaver damaged trees. There are a good one third ringed as well as those that have been felled. Most of the trees are well over sixty years old. Another few years and there will be no trees left. That means no red squirrels/ woodpeckers and all the other wildlife that is there home. Sad. Bob.
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burnie
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Post by burnie on Jun 8, 2017 18:43:47 GMT
There was a time when fields were allowed to flood and silt fertilised the fields for free, then the barley was sown in the spring. Problem is with climate change rivers can now flood in any month of the year, attitudes like Trumps to solving mans destruction of the planet doesn't help. We are in a downward spiral where farming is now industrial production, no longer working in harmony with the environment, example would be salmon farming in the west.
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Post by earnfisher on Jun 9, 2017 8:23:17 GMT
Agree Burnie. A good example is my shoot near Lanark. The heather ploughed and grassed over for sheep. Less sheep now because the wind burns the grass and grouse/harriers/owls and others all gone for what, a government grant. My river is over the banks after some decent rain because amongst other things the grass fields are now in barley wheat etc. Beavers killed off a lot of trees that are jammed in the river causing more erosion of the banks. Sewage treated water killing off the fly life even in the Tummel [see the blanket weed]. Our generation are wasting this planet. Fish farming is a good example. Glad I am not starting salmon fishing now. Bob
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