Remarkable first footage of a Tayside wild beaver has emerged from a pond in rural Angus.
Despite what many believe has been a population explosion and the clear evidence of their presence near rivers in Angus and Perthshire which have become a heartland for the nocturnal rodents, beaver sightings remain rare.
But within days of setting up a video camera in undergrowth near Kirriemuir, a leading angling club figure captured night-time film of a beaver gnawing on willow trees which were left bearing the tell-tale signs of the animal’s presence.
Kirriemuir Angling Club chairman Derek Strachan’s footage will likely further fuel debate over the possible reintroduction of the species in Scotland and the spread of rogue beavers along Tay system rivers, including the Isla and Dean.
Tree surgeon Mr Strachan and angling friends instantly recognised the giveaway signs of damage to trees at the Kirrie club’s Logie Pond, south of the town, and last week the creature was caught on camera when it broke cover for several hours between 11pm and 3am.“This one has just started to make its presence known but it looks like it is going to clear out a lot of willow,” said Mr Strachan.
“The European beavers are not prone to building dams, unlike the American beaver, but they build lodges into the banks and that can lead to some flooding problems.
“In some respects the beavers could be welcome with regard to keeping down some of the foliage, but in the long term it could be a problem because it could remove the cover and affect the environment.
“You have no control over which trees they take and I think some people will be upset by some of the ones they are going to eat,” he added.
”We noticed there had been something at the pond around late November and I had a camera there from mid-January for a few days, but then moved it to a place where we knew that the beaver had a favourite chewing post on a big willow.
“Through my work I’ve seen evidence of them on the Kerbet at Douglastown and at Dalguise up in Perthshire. The club also has a bit of river on the Isla and there are a lot up there, so it wasn’t a surprise to find one at the pond once there were signs that it was there.”