A “BEAVER pass” has been constructed under a Scottish railway line to help the protected species pass underneath safely.
Network Rail engineers created the construction, believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, near Gleneagles.
The area near Perth has seen a growing beaver population– which has led to some flooding issues as the animals build dams across the railway’s drainage culverts.
A culvert in the area was recently blocked by part of a beaver lodge, causing flooding on land dedicated to wet woodland, scrub and fed meadow habitats.
Network Rail obtained appropriate licenses to work in the protected area and worked with species specialists NatureScot to clear the culvert before installing the tunnel with wild mesh fitted on each side.
James Morrison, an ecologist with Network Rail Scotland, explained that to beavers culverts likely look like a hole in a dam.
“The action we took near Gleneagles is the first beaver pass installed in the country that we are aware of,” he said. “It is a repeatable solution which works to protect Scotland’s Railway as well as safeguarding the beaver populations and other wildlife.
"The beavers will naturally expand across Scotland and as they do it is possible they could occasionally impact Network Rail's infrastructure through felling trees on to the line, flooding caused by their dams or burrowing into railway embankments. However, they are an important keystone species and we need a proactive approach and sensitive solutions that allow us to co-exist.”
NatureScot’s Dr Roo Campbell, a member of its Beaver Mitigation Team, said they while the creatures are an important part of the ecosystem, they can cause issues.
“Our team advise on and provide mitigation against beaver issues across Tayside, but this situation is definitely one of the most challenging we’ve faced,” he commented.
“We are pleased that Network Rail have been so proactive in working to live with the beavers at the site. NatureScot will continue to monitor the effect the beavers have on the SSSI.”
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