Tayside Beaver Survey 2017-18

Quality Control

Method steps

1. Beaver activity was recorded by following the methods used in Campbell et al. (2012) to allow direct comparison with the previous (2012) beaver distribution study in Tayside. Field surveys involved surveying a watercourse from canoe or on foot depending on accessibility, though the majority were undertaken on foot. The 2017/2018 survey area included those areas surveyed previously in 2012: the River Tay; the River Tummel; the River Isla (and its tributaries including the River Ericht, Dean Water, Kerbet Water, Burn of Kilry and Lunan Burn with Loch Clunie, Marlee Loch and Rae Loch); the mouth of the River Almond; the River Earn (and its tributaries including the Farg, Dron Burn and Pow Water); and the Invergowrie Burn. The survey area was then expanded to include watercourses with suitable habitat (based on hydrology and vegetation availability) beyond the points beavers had been previously found, plus additional areas in which beavers have been reported since 2012.