A LEADING conservation charity's bid to secure the future of a beaver colony near Ottery St Mary has received "overwhelming" public backing.
Eight landowners and around 100 members of the public attended a recent Natural England organised meeting to gauge public opinion regarding the Devon Wildlife Trust's application for a licence for a project that would monitor the beaver population.
There are now thought to be around 10 of the animals living on the banks of the river near Ottery St Mary.
Experts still have no idea how the beavers came to be in the area, but they are thought to have resided there for at least five years, with some sightings dating back 10 years.
During this time their impact on the surrounding environment has been negligible – contrary to popular misconception, they have neither created a dam, nor removed any of the undergrowth.
Since the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that it would be capturing the beavers, the Devon Wildlife Trust has been working tirelessly to ensure their safe return.
Defra authorised their capture with Natural England granting the licence, so they can be tested for the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite – a rare parasitic tapeworm.
Backed by East Devon MP Hugo Swire, the charity applied for a licence from Natural England for their re-release in October.
The licence would give the charity permission to set up a five-year monitoring project called the River Otter Beaver Trial.
The project will oversee the population, range and health of the beavers and the effect they have on the local landscape and people.
It will focus on the beavers' impact on wildlife, vegetation, water flow, water quality, communities and infrastructure.
But it will cost about £54,000, of which around £40,000 has already been raised through donations, such is the depth of feeling surrounding their release.
Devon Wildlife Trust conservation manager Pete Burgess, said public support is "vital" in securing the beavers' return.
He said some concerns were raised at the meeting by both the landowners and public, but the charity was able to address and appease these and ultimately, there was overwhelming support for the beavers to stay.
"People really wanted to see them remain as part of their community," he said.
"We had the chance to explain that we have a pragmatic framework in place to effectively manage the population after the trial.
"The purpose of the trial is to see what issues may arise and how to deal with them.
"But the beavers have been living on the river for at least five years with no negative impact, and an overwhelmingly positive effect."
Mr Burgess said landowners' concerns including the issue of flooding, for example if a water table forms as a result of a dam built by the beavers.
He explained that the trial will enable officials to identify the risks and how best to deal with them.
"We recognise that the farmers have businesses to run and they want to know," he continued.
"They left having more confidence that we will work well with them.
"During the public meeting, concerns were raised over the welfare of the beavers including the impact of interaction with people; the potential impact on otters.
"These things are right to consider, but since the beavers have been on the river, there are now twice as many otters, and there have been no negatives relating to human interaction."
To donate visit www.devon wildlifetrust.org/devons-wild-beavers-appeal or phone 01392 279244.
