Beavers build themselves a dam fine des res

Published on Wednesday 4 November 2009 21:14

IT is a forest lodge, custom-built to the highest Scandinavian standards, in a stunning loch-side location.

The idyllic family home, built entirely from local materials, meets top eco standards. It boasts a private entrance, a drying area and cosy sleeping quarters.

But this desirable residence will never go on the market – even if the Norwegian family of three who built it decide to move out.

It is the first beaver lodge to built by the animals recently reintroduced to Scotland.

A beaver family known as Bjornar, Katrina and their baby Mille have been busy building themselves their winter home.

The large rodents, which were let loose in Scotland in May, are now proud residents of a giant lodge made out of nothing but mud and sticks.

Simon Jones, project manager for the Scottish Beaver Trial, was "thrilled" to discover the lodge in Knapdale Forest in Argyll – the first to be built in Scotland since the animals were wiped out 400 years ago.

The lodge, which is more than six feet high and 16 feet long, stands on the edge of a loch from which it is accessed via an underwater front door.

This leads into a small room, similar to a porch, where the animals dry off. Then they go through to a larger, cosy bedroom where they can shelter from the cold weather.

Jones believes it shows the animals, originally from Norway, have started to feel settled in their new surroundings.

"This is a fantastic sign that these beavers have settled into the area," he said. "They are following their instincts and acting as beavers naturally do.

"These animals have come from Norway where there's a very harsh winter and they don't know it will be quite a lot milder than they are used to," he added.

The lodge was built from piles of earth excavated from the loch, and wood from the forest.

"This is quite a busy period for the beavers because they are making preparations for winter," said Mr Jones. "They are felling small trees and collecting feeding material."

Not everything has gone so smoothly, however, since three beaver families were released in the forest in May, in the first reintroduction of a once-native mammal to the UK.

One male was found dead soon after release and three other animals disappeared. One, Andreas Bjorn, has now been re-captured and returned to the project site.

The two others – Mary Lou and Gunn-Rita – are still missing. It is feared Gunn-Rita could be dead, after shots were heard close to the time she disappeared.

Mr Jones told The Scotsman they are close to finding at least one of the missing females. He said signs of beaver activity have been spotted close to a river about a mile north of the site.

The reintroduction has met with some opposition, particularly from fishing groups that believe the beavers will dam rivers important for salmon migration.

Mr Jones said: "There are a small, vocal minority of people who are upset and I don't think that will go away."

A spokesman for Forestry Commission Scotland urged people not to try to visit the lodge because this could disturb the beavers.

Project manager Simon Jones stands beside the large Winter hideaway in Argyll