The wildlife trusts have finally admitted that there are beavers on the River Wye. We now have two exterminated species back in Herefordshire, the Wild Boar and the Beaver. The wildlife trusts published a Draft Position Statement in 2017, probably because the reports of beavers being run over in the catchment could no longer be ignored, and now the presence of beavers in the River Wye has been acknowledged by the government and reported in the Guardian (see link below). The River Wye catchment area is 4136 sq. km so this gives them access to a huge area from which other catchments may be easily reached. This is a national not a local story. Whether they reached the Wye themselves, or were helped to reach it, the same can happen elsewhere.
Beavers on the Wye
Thanks for a brilliant article Richard. You have raised my awareness.