Why isthe introduction of species deemed necessary

The beavers reintroduced up the road at Knepp are doing well, as are the storks.

All the weasel family I find so endearing, and watching them play or hunt is magical. When we lived in Devon just on the edge of South Dartmoor, though -50 years ago, mink (an introduced species) another family member were causing havoc in the rivers as they were such successful hunters. I think trapping them has begun to get their numbers down.

Red v Grey squirrels, the greys have a virus, so I believe, that is toxic for the reds, and so the reds will always lose out.

This is a fascinating thread

SueDonim

My son-in-law farms and he has welcomed beavers onto his land. No one knows where the beavers came from, it wasn’t a planned repopulation, but they’ve done wonders for the local waterways, preventing flooding with their dams.

The seal that came upriver wasn’t so welcome by the fishermen! It had strayed off course as seals don’t belong 30 miles inland.

Not so great for any farmers downstream of them who need the river for their livestock.
Unless there was flooding as you say.
In the one I know about, there was not.

But in many cases livestock is the problem. Look at what happened in America when they introduced cattle and their needs overrode the needs of every other animal. Didn’t the great clearance of people in Scotland happen because they needed the land for sheep?

Beavers don’t stop the rivers entirely, they simply manage the flow

Whitewavemark2

Beavers don’t stop the rivers entirely, they simply manage the flow

They don't use the big rivers, anyway. They like the smaller streams that feed into the smaller rivers and from there into the bigger ones. They don't stop up the streams completely, just slow down the flow. In managing the waterflow in the feeder streams, they are also managing the amount that rushes down in heavy rain and overflows the banks downstream on the flat flood plains.

Whitewavemark2

Beavers don’t stop the rivers entirely, they simply manage the flow

Not entirely no.
But in the case I know. there is a signifact reduction.

They wouldnt prevent flooding otherwise, would they.

MayBee70

But in many cases livestock is the problem. Look at what happened in America when they introduced cattle and their needs overrode the needs of every other animal. Didn’t the great clearance of people in Scotland happen because they needed the land for sheep?

People would like meat to eat.
Not just insects.

Or plants.

Maremia

How are the beaver releases going? There was a lot of initial concern about this.

We had 2 beavers reintroduced on the outskirts of my village a number of years ago. They have had kits every year since and some of them have been moved elsewhere. They have made such a difference to the village, we have not had a single flooding since they were introduced and it has been a very successful release.

It is sudden large amounts of water arriving without warning that causes the flooding. If the feeder streams allow water to be added more slowly, it gives it time to move it on before the river level gets too high to take what is following. In the case you know of, the delay clearly wasn't enough to help, but it is still right to say that beaver activity is beneficial to evening out water flow.

Grouse moors burnt to faciliate killing grouse. Banned in some areas due to the risk of wild fires and damage of peat land and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. However as long as grouse are shot for food that appears to be OK?

missdeke

Maremia

How are the beaver releases going? There was a lot of initial concern about this.

We had 2 beavers reintroduced on the outskirts of my village a number of years ago. They have had kits every year since and some of them have been moved elsewhere. They have made such a difference to the village, we have not had a single flooding since they were introduced and it has been a very successful release.

Brilliant ! How much heartache and money have the little beavers saved.

Fancythat said ^Not so great for any farmers downstream of them who need the river for their livestock.
Unless there was flooding as you say. In the one I know about, there was not.^

I doubt farmers downstream from where the beavers live have to worry about irrigation. There’s water in abundance. In fact flooding is the big issue, including an entire housing development, some years ago.

I saw an interesting documentary about reintroducing wolves into a US national park. It’s had enormous benefuts

I think that was Yellowstone. I expect Trump is planning to sell shooting licences for them to his millionaire hunting friends.

Yes I agree -=yellowstone and thecawfulTrump

Introductions to the wild can be very successful and beneficial in some cases. Look up the reintroduction of Wolves to Yellowstone National Park, it's an amazingly successful case where many people were against it in the begining.