A leading wildlife expert has distanced himself from claims that beavers could topple this summer’s T in the Park festival.
The Scottish Sun today suggested organisers face a new wildlife threat after evidence of beavers at the event’s Strathallan Castle home.
But naturalist Jim Crumley quoted in The Sun article said today there is no cause for concern.
“All I have seen as yet is a photograph (of a fallen tree), so I don’t know if this is one beaver passing through or if there is more activity in the area which might suggest a family group,” he said.
Mr Crumley said there are major differences between possible beaver activity at Strathallan and the recent case of a rogue beaver at Pitlochry, which was moved by conservationists last week.
“Unlike the Moulin Burn beaver, which SNH trapped and relocated, there is no problem here,” he said. “And the fact that one beaver has cut down a tree in January does not mean that T in the Park will be overrun in July.”
Mr Crumley, who writes for The Courier, added: “If the beaver doesn’t like the place because of disturbance, it will most likely just disappear quietly in the night.”
He said “hysterical” reports about a possible beaver threat were “not helpful”.
T in the Park has so far not commented on the claims.