Lethal Control

Advice on Lethal Control

If translocation is not feasible then lethal control is an option used in specific scenarios in Scotland and other parts of Europe. Lethal control licences are not currently issued in England or Wales.

Lethal control is only undertaken in Scotland in cases where for example damming activity threatens serious damage to prime agricultural land and where NatureScot knows alternative mitigation measures either have not or will not address the problems being experienced.

There are specific licence requirements for lethal control and it can only be conducted at a specific site under the appropriate wildlife management licence after undertaking accredited controller training and according to agreed procedures. Further details can be found on the NatureScot website here.

Lethal control is easier to undertake during autumn and winter when beavers are more predictable in their emergence pattern and should be used to remove the entire family group. It should be undertaken outside of the kit dependency period, which runs from 1st April to 16th August.

Lethal control is a temporary solution in that it creates a territory vacuum which can result in other beavers recolonising the same area.

Licensing in Each Country

In Scotland

As of 1st May 2019 beavers are recognised as a European Protected Species in Scotland.

Trapping and lethal control of a beaver does require a licence under the current management framework.

If you own or manage land that is affected by beaver activities,visit NatureScot’s website.

In England

As of 1st October 2022 beavers are recognised as a European Protected Species in England.

Lethal control of a beaver requires a specialist individual licence under the current management framework.

To obtain further details about this, visit the Government’s website.

In Wales

Beavers are not currently a protected species in Wales.

If you own or manage land that is affected by beaver activities contact the Welsh Beaver Project for support on beaver.afanc@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Other Areas of Management

Beaver Foraging

Beavers fell trees for food and construction materials, but some tree-felling can be undesirable and occasionally hazardous. Protecting a tree from beaver browsing can be simple, inexpensive and quick.

Beaver Damming

Beavers build dams for protection from predators, but sometimes these dams can cause localised flooding, affect infrastructure and may hinder passage of migratory fish in some specific circumstances. There are a number of management techniques which can be employed to resolve this.

Beaver Burrowing

Where the banks of a watercourse allow, beavers will excavate burrows instead of building lodges. Burrowing activity can cause bank erosion and undermine infrastructure on some soil types.