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(CNN) -- For the first time in 400 years, the beaver has returned to Great Britain.

Experts hope the beaver's return to the United Kingdom could lead to more habitat restoration.







Four wild beaver families arrived at London's Heathrow airport Thursday night, the first step in an effort to reintroduce the mammals -- probably hunted to extinction around the reign of King James I, in the 16th or 17th century -- to the British countryside.

The beaver families, which were trapped in Norway after several months of careful observation, will be quarantined for six months before being released in western Scotland.

"This is the latest stage in a truly exciting development for wildlife watchers, not just in Scotland but around the world," said Michael Russell, Britain's minister for environment. "I am sure the beavers are awaiting their release from quarantine... as keenly as I am."

Conservationists and wildlife advocates hope the reintroduction of the beaver will spark a further restoration of natural habitats in the British isles.

"Beavers hold the potential to create new wetland habitats which in turn increases the appeal to other native species," said Simon Jones of the Scottish Beaver Trial, which is overseeing the project. "We are excited to get the trial under way and see what benefits beavers can bring to Scotland."



I thought it was gonna be a soccer team or something...:wah:

They have to be the cutest of cutes! We have them right here, only 2KM away in a river nearby, we go and watch them alot, it's so much fun to watch them play, make their dens and bring their kids out to to play.

So glad you have them back.

Canada has thousands and they are our symbol.





The beaver could be considered the oldest icon related to Canadian history. In 1975 the beaver became the official emblem of Canada an rightly so, who better to choose than the beaver who had been part of Canadian history since day one. The beaver became the symbol for the sovereignty of Canada.

Does the UK need any oppasums or squirells? We have plenty of them around here.

I'd love to see Beavers other than in wildlife parks,

It's fantastic that they are back in our waters but sad that the one's released have to be protected.

Many an angler in Britain is already complaining what these little chaps do to fish stocks. Hard luck Anglers :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Their concern is un-warrented anyway as the numbers will not fully recover for some years. I hope they do, i love them.

Although i did think this thread was about another kind of Beaver. :sneaky:

O-O-O-H. You mean the CRITTER beavers.

hoppy;1065735 wrote: O-O-O-H. You mean the CRITTER beavers.


We think alike :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

hoppy;1065735 wrote: O-O-O-H. You mean the CRITTER beavers.


good thing you don't live here!:yh_rotfl

Odie;1065766 wrote: good thing you don't live here!:yh_rotfl


Do you have alot of 'beavers' out there Odie?? :yh_rotfl

Yeah, we have the same problems with them here in the mid west. Probably not on the same scale though. When I worked for the D.O.T. I had to tear out my share of beaver dams.

When you run some animals out of an area then build it up, it's not always a good idea to re-introduce certain animals back into that area.

guppy;1065519 wrote: Four wild beaver families arrived at London's Heathrow airport Thursday night,


When I read this, my brain instantly conjured up an image of a family of beavers arriving with suitcases, cameras round necks, etc.

Welcome to our new beavers. I hope they like Scotland.

oscar;1065780 wrote: Do you have alot of 'beavers' out there Odie?? :yh_rotfl


what I mean is its illegal to trap them here.

as said, I only have to drive 2 miles to a river close by that has a family.

Beav's are in tons of places, so neat to see them, one morning at 5am we went fishing, heard this huge noise, scared the hell out of us, as it was quiet and no one was around...it was a beaver slapping his tail in the water..it was an alert to other

beavers that we were there..man was he mad at us!:yh_rotfl

OpenMind;1065937 wrote: When I read this, my brain instantly conjured up an image of a family of beavers arriving with suitcases, cameras round necks, etc.

Welcome to our new beavers. I hope they like Scotland.


:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Yes, and some of our coyotes and mountain lions too.

hoppy;1065929 wrote: Yeah, we have the same problems with them here in the mid west. Probably not on the same scale though. When I worked for the D.O.T. I had to tear out my share of beaver dams.

When you run some animals out of an area then build it up, it's not always a good idea to re-introduce certain animals back into that area.


Yeah, don't leave it to beavers.

I love the idea of beavers back in Britain (along with their little suitcases and camera's) but i read today something quite alarming.

To be re-introduced into Britain after being hunted into extinction by 1784, is the 4th largest bird predator in the world. The Sea Eagle has a wing span of 8 ft and is claimed to hunt small lambs and piglets. It is also known to affect the Golden Eagle.

There are 42 known pairs living on remote Islands in Scotland but plans are to re-introduce the Sea Eagle into The Norfolk Coast where the Wetlands will suit it's habitat.

A risky venture i fear. :(:(

Both of my boys were Beavers.

Both my daughters are.:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl