Monthly beaver updates

This document contains the May 2026 update on beavers in the Cairngorms National Park. The beaver population currently totals 61, including 18 wild-born kits in 2025 and one so far in 2026, with further monitoring underway to confirm this year's breeding. Beavers are actively present and showing signs of feeding and coppicing at various sites such as Rothiemurchus, Kinrara, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, and Loch Morlich 1, where a new kit was recently spotted. There are also signs of beaver activity in areas like Cromdale and Laggan Bridge. The Park Authority regularly monitors release sites and high-impact areas, removes dams where necessary, and protects trees by wrapping them. They also work to raise awareness, having presented at a 'Beavers Across Britain' conference and holding various group meetings. For landowner communication, the Park Authority directly contacts those unaware of beaver presence, while this update serves as a general report, and WhatsApp groups are used for specific sites.

This document contains an April 2026 update on beavers in the Cairngorms National Park, reporting a total population of 60 beavers, which includes 2 wild-born kits from 2024 and 18 from 2025. Beavers are active in many sites across the area, such as Rothiemurchus, Kinrara, Glen Tromie, and Insh Marshes, with observations of extensive feeding signs, burrows, and scent mounds, and new releases noted at Loch Morlich 2. The Park Authority regularly monitors these sites through patrols and canoe surveys, and continues to raise awareness and understanding about beavers through various events and meetings, including discussions with Network Rail and educational visits for students. Landowners are kept informed about new beaver presence by the Park Authority, with general updates provided monthly.

This document contains an update on beaver activity in the Cairngorms National Park for March 2026. The beaver population now totals 60, with new kits born in the wild during 2024 and 2025 contributing to this number. Beavers are active across many locations within the National Park, including Rothiemurchus, Kinrara, Glen Tromie, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, Loch Morlich, Aviemore, and Kingussie Grazings, with fresh feeding signs, evidence of territorial behaviour, and some new beaver releases observed. Activity has also been noted in areas like Cromdale, Laggan Bridge, and Boat of Garten. The Park Authority continues its monitoring efforts with monthly patrols of release sites and weekly checks in areas with high beaver impact, and recently published the River Spey beaver report for 2025. Throughout March, there were various activities to raise awareness and understanding, such as site visits, public talks, beaver walks, and training sessions. The Park Authority also directly contacts landowners if beavers are discovered on their property without prior knowledge, and shares ongoing updates through this report and dedicated landowner WhatsApp groups.

This document contains an update on beaver activity in the Cairngorms National Park for February 2026, reporting a total population of 58 beavers, including those wild-born in 2024 and 2025 and animals released over the past three years. Beavers are actively present across many sites within the National Park, such as Rothiemurchus, various Wildland areas, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, Loch Morlich, and the Aviemore area, with observations including a newly released family of five and tree felling. Activity is also noted in surrounding areas like Kingussie Grazings, Cromdale, Boat of Garten, and Grantown. The Park Authority regularly monitors these sites through patrols and addresses specific concerns, such as beaver activity near planted trees. They are also actively raising public awareness and understanding of beavers through engagements with various groups, including wildlife guides and advisory bodies, and communicate directly with landowners if beavers are unexpectedly found on their property, utilizing dedicated messaging groups for ongoing updates.

This document contains an update on beaver activity within and around the Cairngorms National Park as of January 2026. The beaver population stands at a total of 58, including those released over the past three years and wild-born kits from 2024 and 2025. Beavers are actively present across various sites like Rothiemurchus, Insh Marshes, and Loch Morlich, where they have been observed felling trees and maintaining dams. Activity has reduced in some areas due to freezing conditions, while new feeding signs have been reported in Grantown. The Park Authority conducts monthly patrols of release sites and weekly patrols of high-impact areas, and is engaged in raising public awareness through community events and landowner meetings to discuss beaver presence and management, including cases where beavers are found on land previously unaware of their presence.

This document contains an update on beaver activity and population within and around the Cairngorms National Park as of December 2025. The total beaver population stands at 58, including one beaver found outside the National Park boundary, with 18 wild-born kits recorded in 2025. Beavers are active across many locations such as Rothiemurchus, where a large lodge measuring 6 metres long, 5 metres wide, and 2 metres high has been built, as well as various Wildland sites, Insh Marshes, and Loch Morlich, with new signs of activity like burrows and food caches reported in Cromdale and Boat of Garten. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is actively monitoring these areas through monthly patrols of release sites and weekly patrols of high-impact zones, including efforts like wrapping trees to protect them and providing training to staff on dam removal. To help people understand more about beavers, a question and answer session was held at the Scottish Parliament, and the Park Authority directly communicates with landowners when beavers are found on their property, also running WhatsApp groups for those in areas with beaver presence.

This document contains a beaver update for November 2025, prepared by Jonathan Willet. It summarizes the beaver population, noting a total of 53 beavers, with 18 kits born in 2025. The update details beaver activity at various locations such as Rothiemurchus, Wildland areas, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, and Loch Morlich, including information on tree felling, dam maintenance, and burrow sightings. It also covers sites outside Kingussie to Aviemore, mentioning beaver activity in Cromdale and Laggan Bridge, and the monitoring and mitigation plans. Lastly, it highlights awareness and understanding activities, including school visits to discuss beaver ecology.

This document contains an October 2025 beaver update for the Cairngorms National Park. The beaver population includes 18 beavers released in the first year, 15 in the second year, two wild-born kits in 2024 and 18 in 2025, totaling 53 beavers. Beavers are still active at Rothiemurchus (Lily Loch), Insh Marshes, Wildland 4, Inshriach and Loch Morlich. Aspen trees have been felled at Wildland 1, where a dam has overtopped due to rain. There has been no change at Wildland 2 and 3, and a possible second burrow was found at Wildland 4. Fresh beaver feeding signs were seen at Aviemore and Kingussie Grazings, as well as at Cromdale and Laggan Bridge. Monthly and weekly patrols are being conducted, but there has been no recent activity at the beaver dam removal site, and no beaver feeding signs were seen on the River Druie. Educational talks have been given to students and a group, discussing the benefits and challenges of beavers.

This document contains a beaver update for September 2025, detailing the beaver population in the Cairngorms National Park. As of 2025, there are 53 beavers in the area, including those released and wild-born kits. The report highlights beaver activity at various locations, including dam construction, feeding habits, and territory changes, with weekly visits to determine the beaver's residence. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is also actively involved in monitoring, mitigation, and raising awareness about beavers, including educational events and collaborations with organizations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), with local residents being informed about potential beaver activity in their areas.

This document contains a beaver update for August 2025 from Jonathan Willet regarding the Cairngorms National Park. The beaver population includes 18 beavers released in year one, 15 in year two, two wild-born kits in 2024, and 17 wild-born kits in 2025, totaling 52 beavers, with one outside the park boundary. A beaver survey of the Spey is being drafted for release in September. Beaver activity has been recorded at various sites, including Rothiemurchus, Wildland, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, Loch Morlich, and Cromdale. Monitoring and mitigation plans include monthly patrols of release sites, weekly patrols of high-impact areas, and a canoe survey of the Spey completed in August. A 30-second film about the Cairngorms Beaver Project is now playing in cinemas. A Scottish Beaver Advisory Group Meeting took place on 20 and 21 August.

This document contains a beaver update for July 2025 in the Cairngorms National Park. The beaver population is currently at 49, including 18 released in year one, 15 released in year two, two kits from two families in 2024, and 14 kits from seven families in 2025. Activity varies by location, with kits observed in several areas like Rothiemurchus, Insh Marshes, Inshriach and Loch Morlich. Monitoring and mitigation efforts include patrols, dam removal site maintenance, and a canoe survey of the River Spey. The Cairngorms Beaver Project is raising awareness through a cinema advert, and meetings have been held, including a sensory event for the visually impaired and a training day for trainee rangers.

This document contains a June 2025 beaver update for the Cairngorms National Park Authority. It details beaver activity at various locations, including sightings of adults and kits, lodge maintenance, and burrow observations. It also covers monitoring and mitigation actions, such as monthly release site patrols and weekly high-impact area patrols. Furthermore, the update mentions efforts to raise awareness, including a visit from junior rangers and a feature on STV's Green Jobs programme, as well as updates on relevant meetings.

This document contains an update on beaver activity in the Cairngorms National Park for May 2025. It details beaver sightings and activity at various locations, including Rothiemurchus, Wildland, Insh Marshes, Inshriach and Loch Morlich, as well as sites outwith Kingussie to Aviemore. The update also mentions monitoring and mitigation plan actions, such as monthly and weekly patrols of release sites and high impact areas. Finally, the document lists activities related to raising awareness and understanding of beavers, along with a meeting of the Monitoring and Mitigation Group to discuss flood embankment high impact criteria.

This document contains an April 2025 update on beaver activity in the Cairngorms National Park. It details observations at various locations, including Rothiemurchus, Wildland sites, Insh Marshes, Inshriach, Loch Morlich, Aviemore, and Kingussie Grazings, as well as sites outside of Kingussie to Aviemore. The update mentions monitoring and mitigation plan actions, such as monthly patrols of release sites and weekly patrols of high-impact areas. It also reports on beaver dam removal, delivery of weldmesh to protect a new orchard, raising awareness, and understanding events such as site visits and training. Finally, it introduces Pete Short, the new Beaver Project Officer, who will be assisting with site visits, drone surveying, and other tasks related to the Beaver Project.

This document contains a beaver update for March 2025, detailing beaver activity in various locations within and near the Cairngorms National Park. The update includes observations of lodge expansion, feeding signs, dam construction, and beaver presence captured on camera. It also mentions monitoring and mitigation plan actions, such as weekly patrols of release sites. Additionally, the document highlights awareness and understanding initiatives, including a talk about bringing beavers back to the Park and a Beaver Ranger accompanying a junior ranger canoe day.

This document contains a beaver update for February 2025 in the Cairngorms National Park. It details beaver activity in various locations, including lodge sizes, tree felling, feeding habits, and the presence of kits. Monitoring and mitigation plan actions include weekly patrols of release sites, noting beaver presence at a dam removal site. Additionally, it mentions awareness activities were paused for the month and a landowner event about the flood embankment survey was held, with a report available online.

This document contains an update on beaver activity in the Cairngorms National Park for January 2025. It details beaver activity in various locations, including increased tree felling and lodge building in Rothiemurchus and Wildland, as well as feeding activity in other areas such as Inshriach and Loch Morlich. Monitoring and mitigation efforts include weekly patrols of release sites and the discovery of a beaver kit in Inshriach, with the site manager requesting confidentiality. There are no planned public talks or walks this month, and a flood embankments survey was sent to landowners and managers on 30 January.