Going On A Beaver Hunt!

Taking to the Tay offers a chance to see Scotland’s most recently reintroduced species up close…

- Wendy Glass

UNTIL relatively recently, beavers were a species of animal that lived in Scotland long, long ago – but not any more. Since the 2009 trial introduction of a small group of European beavers at Knapdale Forest in Argyll, and their unofficial reintroduction in Perthshire, beavers have been secretly making new homes on Scotland’s waterways – and I’m about to go looking for the elusive ones who live on the River Tay.

“I see beavers 70% of the time when I’m kayaking in the east of Scotland,” says Outdoor Explore’s Piotr Guden, who is originally from Poland and moved to Scotland in 2014 after working all over the world as an outdoor instructor.

“I’ve been watching the European beavers who live in the Perth area for over a year now and although they’re still far from being common, if you know where and when to look, and you’re patient, there’s a good chance you’ll spot one.”

Piotr’s beaver-spotting expertise has tempted me to take part in a Canoe Beaver Safari, which I had fully expected to involve paddling along a secluded loch high in the Perthshire hills in the early hours of the morning. However, Piotr has asked me to meet him at 6pm at a pontoon on the banks of the Tay, only a few minutes’ drive from Perth.

“Kayaking is one of the best ways to spot a beaver as you barely disturb the water and make very little noise,” explains Piotr. I climb into a double kayak with Danièle Muir of Perthshire Wildlife, who regularly teams up with Piotr to share her expert knowledge about the animals, birds, insects and fish that can be seen on a Beaver Safari.