Advice on Trapping and Translocation
Under very specific circumstances, trapping and removal may be an option if beaver activities are significantly impacting human land-use, infrastructure and / or livelihoods. At the current time, these processes are only undertaken in Scotland in areas where beavers pose a significant problem for agriculture.
This option should only ever be viewed as a last resort once other mitigation options have been exhausted.
It is vital to note that this option must not be undertaken without the correct licence and should only be undertaken by qualified and experienced personnel.
Removing the beavers likely provides only a temporary solution given that it creates a territory vacuum which can result in other beavers recolonising the same area.
Specially designed Bavarian beaver traps are used for trapping animals. These are live traps which are used across Europe. Once inside and the doors close, the beaver is kept safe and secure until the licence holder can collect it.
Disease risk analysis, management and health surveillance are crucial elements of translocation. Peer-reviewed disease risk analyses for beavers in Great Britain are available and described in Natural England’s 2024 Eurasian beaver disease risk management and post-release health surveillance protocol.
The above cited disease risk management protocol states that health checks should include:
Body Condition Assessment to provide an indication of overall health.
Screening for Infectious Agents. There are specific testing protocols dependent on where the beavers are trapped.
Medical Examination and Sampling (e.g. faecal and blood samples).
Treatment, should a beaver test positive for a disease or parasite.
There are variations in the hazards and accompanying level of risk associated with different populations of beavers. Consideration of the source of a beaver (and its origins) will determine variations in the recommended pathogen testing and treatment protocols.
In terms of health surveillance, all facilities must have an appointed veterinary surgeon, responsible for assessing the beaver’s health, and ensuring the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (2006) in England and Wales, and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act (2006) in Scotland, are complied with during captivity, and that biosecurity measures are in place and correctly applied.
The health checks and screenings required may also vary according to the statutory body issuing the licence.
To comply with legislative requirements, only beavers assessed as fit and healthy should be subject to translocation/release.
The Beaver Trust have produced a video showing how health checks are conducted, including samples collected, after beaver have been trapped:
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.
Trapping and lethal control of a beaver requires a licence under the current management framework.
If you own or manage land that is affected by beavers, 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@
Other Areas of Management
Mitigate Beaver Impacts
Choose from a range of well-established mitigation and management techniques
