Beavers return to Loch Ness catchment after 500-year absence

A family of six beavers has been released into a lochan at Dundreggan in the Scottish Highlands, beginning their return to the Loch Ness catchment 500 years after the species was last recorded there.

The animals were moved from elsewhere in Scotland to Trees for Life’s rewilding estate under a NatureScot licence. Their arrival launches the Ness Beaver Project, through which Trees for Life and Beaver Trust plan to reintroduce 15 families to the area over three years.

Loch Ness was Scotland’s last recorded beaver site before hunting drove the species to national extinction. NatureScot granted the project a licence on 30 October, following an application by Trees for Life during the summer.

The scheme aims to establish populations that can grow and connect across extensive woodland and hundreds of kilometres of river and loch banks. Its significance lies not simply in restoring a lost species, but in the changes beavers can make to the surrounding habitat.

By digging channels, coppicing trees and building dams, beavers create pools, wetlands and woodland clearings. These support frogs and dragonflies, while abundant insects provide food for birds and bats.

In smaller streams, dams slow the flow and trap sediment, helping to improve water quality. Beaver wetlands can also reduce downstream flooding, retain water during dry spells and offer damp refuges for wildlife during wildfires.

Alan McDonnell, head of nature restoration at Trees for Life, said: “The Ness Beaver Project is now set to be a major milestone for nature recovery in Britain.” He said the animals’ return offered opportunities for wildlife recovery, healthier rivers and eco-tourism.

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “It has been profoundly rewarding to release the first beavers at Dundreggan, marking the start of their return to the Loch Ness catchment.

“The extensive woodland and suitable habitat here offer real opportunities for the animals to thrive and bring lasting biodiversity benefits.”

Campbell-Palmer said the organisations would work with local communities and land managers to support further releases and help people live alongside beavers. She described the project as a step towards delivering Scotland’s National Beaver Strategy, combining expansion into suitable areas with monitoring and practical help to address challenges.

The project follows extensive discussions with local communities and land managers, and is described as having strong public support. Trees for Life’s locally based beaver officer and Beaver Trust staff will provide continuing support. A monitoring and mitigation group will also be established, alongside opportunities for research, citizen science and educational events.

At Dundreggan, which is home to the world’s first Rewilding Centre, Trees for Life plans guided tours once the animals have settled. Visitors would have opportunities to spot beavers, identify signs of their activity and learn about the changes they make to the landscape. The centre explores how rewilding can help nature recover, benefit people and support the repopulation of the Highlands.

Future release sites will be announced only after the animals have been released, to allow them to settle without disturbance. Before release, beavers undergo health checks at Five Sisters Zoo’s specialist holding facility.

Gary Curran, the zoo’s collection manager, said growing wild populations since Scotland’s first official reintroduction trial in 2009 showed what co-operation could achieve in restoring a lost species. He described the return to Loch Ness as a major turning point in that recovery.