Is it time to allow Scotland to go wild?

HERE’S a question for you. Do you wish to see lynx and beavers living freely in Scotland again within our lifetimes?  Let’s throw in another question. If these animals never returned to the wilds of Scotland, would that really bother you?

 There are simple answers to these questions. The problem is that my answer could be the total opposite of yours. However, these are questions that we must reach consensus on if we are to agree an intelligent way forward for the conservation of Scotland’s wildlife and our landscapes.

 Make no mistake about it, both beavers and lynx will trigger changes in our natural environment that will force us out of our current comfort zones and take us down the road to “re-wilding” some of our favourite places. 

Are we ready to allow nature more say on how our landscape may look and function in places? There will certainly be physical changes that some of us will like and others will not, whilst others might not even notice. There will also be knock-on changes for the rest of our wildlife which could prove initially dramatic as our natural environment re-boots itself to the return of such key species. The life of a roe or red deer will become very much different in an area where a top predator is present whilst those species that benefit from wetlands will undoubtedly gain from the activities of beavers.

If there’s one thing I admire about Lynx its those dams they build that impact the entire forest. Oh wait – they don’t. I mean I have nothing against Lynx but I don’t understand why they’re lumping these two animals together. I’m sure there are useful trophic things lynx do for the habitat. Reduce rodents, add a predator, etc. Still beavers are wayyyyyyyy better.

Many of us believe that every species has a right to live where it belongs and the environment of Scotland is the poorer without it. We intrinsically know this, and the fact that we obsess in our media about trying to save the last members of a rare species (usually furry, feathered or bright-eyed) shows how the value we attach to it increases with its increasing rarity.

 But how should we value species that were formerly native in Scotland but that we have now eradicated?

 Conversely, while we can quantify the costs of livestock lost to re-introduced species, how do we assign a value to the fear, however irrational, that we might have walking through a dark wood inhabited by lynx?

 We will continue to debate the pros and cons of whether beavers and lynx should return to live freely in Scotland and arguments on both sides of the debate are equally worthy.

 However, the final question is possibly the most important. Does it bother you whether beavers and lynx live in Scotland or not?

The answer lies deep within us all and should be the one that determines this debate.

Honestly, I don’t think that IS the final question. Scotland can’t decide whether it needs beavers or not based on how much they are missed. How much would folks miss politicians if Scotland took them all away? Just because something isn’t missed doesn’t mean its not necessary. And beavers are NECESSARY.

Today’s donation comes from the Oakland Zoo who kindly offered a Family Pass for the silent auction. When is the last time you went to the zoo? I had so much fun on my recent trip with beaver friend and guide Cindy Margulis. I also heard rumors about the vast new land the zoo has purchased and will turn into California terrain before it was settled, with all the wildlife that USED to be here, including you-know-what! Thanks Oakland Zoo for supporting the Martinez Beavers!