I was so jealous when I saw this article. I dream of he day there are marked “beaver trails” in the US. And no trappers along them!

Exploring new beaver trail at Rothiemurchus – but did I spot any buck-toothed rodents?

 

A great way to learn more about the beaver reintroduction project – and, hopefully, to spot one – is to walk or cycle the newly named Beaver Trail.

The 7km loop, on a pre-existing trail, takes in the beaver’s natural habitat and passes the stunning mirrored waters of Lochan Mor.

If you fancy a short diversion, you can also take in Loch an Eilein.

How fun to walk a marked beaver trail! And there is certainly an apetite for it nowadays. Back when we had actual beavers I would have worried about the possibility of harassment coming the beavers way if there were signs marking the trail. Maybe if it was a larger area and the beavers had more protection I wouldn’t have worried.

Parking at the Woodlands car park at Inverdruie, opposite the estate’s Farm Shop and Barn Cafe, I stroll through the ancient forest and along the easy-to-follow Beaver Trail, signposted in red.

I know this beautiful walk well, having explored it many times in the past – but before it became the dedicated Beaver Trail.

The trail heads through a metal gate and deep into woodland where there are new information boards galore about beavers and ‘gnawed’ wooden signs.

Give beavers space

These advise you to give beavers space if you do spot them and I personally think I would be shocked into silence if I did.

After crossing some open ground, the route undulates through the forest before descending to reach the outflow of glorious Lochan Mor, known locally as the Lily Loch.

Ya ya ya. That’s it. You got beaver chew signs and reminders how to spot wildlife along the way. Sure just show OFF why don’t you. Maybe you could even have a castle or something along the path.

The sun hits the loch as I gaze across its still waters to the ruined 13th Century island castle.

Instead, I turn left and follow the shore path over a footbridge, return to the road, and rejoin the Beaver Trail.

The track has great views across fields and woodland, with boards boasting beaver and wildlife facts along the way.

Oh sure. You get a beaver trail AND a ruined castle and Martinez gets the occasional baby ducks. Sheesh.

Guess what tomorrow is? I mean besides another grueling october day before the election. It’s opening day of the SOLD OUT beaver conference in Colorado.

The weekend was full of fieldtrips and getting acquainted. But tomorrow  morning is the start of the lectures. I’m thrilled that Ellen is finally on the lineup. Way back when I persuaded her to be part of the beaver restoration guidebook update Michael Pollock beamed and told me kindly that that is what they call in  academic circles as a “Get”.

This will give you just a little taste of what weInternal map for BCON Program.xlsx - Google Sheets - BEAVERCON-2024-Schedule‘ll be missing.

 

I really enjoyed Emily’s beaver presentation for the very high-powered nonprofit POST last night. (Peninsula Open Space Land Trust) (Think Stanford) It covered all the basics and the not so basics. In her background section she made sure to specifically say that they don’t live in the dam (( (So if anyone was listening from the New York r=or LA Times they can get that right in the future.) She even outlined findings from our historic papers showing they belonged in California. And best of all stressed that what beavers needed from us is to let them do their thing. I have to say even very picky people like me were happy.

I thought you would appreciate it too. So here it is without the warm-up game show beaver quiz.