An assessment of wild living beaver populations on the River Avon and tributaries

Tender description

The Authority is looking for suppliers for a An assessment of wild living beaver populations on the River Avon and tributaries. Defra are currently undertaking a national public consultation on the approach to further beaver reintroductions and their management in England. In the last few years there have been increased reports and validated records of beaver sightings and signs across areas of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Kent. Natural England is therefore interested in understanding more about the populations of beavers in these areas, particularly those on the River Avon catchment (Including rivers By Brook, Frome & Kennet and Avon canal) and River Brue, in Wiltshire and Somerset. The proposed survey will confirm the presence and absence on a number of river catchments where there are increasing sightings and reports of beavers. The survey data will be presented in a report and analysed to determine the abundance of beavers and provide an estimate of the number of beaver territories. Natural England recommended that an assessment is made of the existing populations and how best to manage them to maximise benefit and minimise conflict (Pouget & Gill, 2020). An assessment of the distribution of beavers and the abundance of these populations are of great importance to understand the impacts (both positive and negative) that these populations of beavers may bring, and to consider the management options going forward.