Outcomes of a ‘One Health’ Monitoring Approach to a Five-Year Beaver (Castor fiber) Reintroduction Trial in Scotland

The Scottish Beaver Trial, involving the translocation and release of 16 wild Norwegian beavers (Castor fiber) to Scotland, provides a good example of a ‘One Health’ scientific monitoring approach, with independent monitoring partners on ecology and public health feeding into veterinary health surveillance. Pathogen detection did not prohibit beaver release, although eight beavers were seropositive for Leptospira spp. Six deaths (37.5%) occurred during Rabies quarantine, followed by the death of two animals shortly after release and two wild-born kits due to suspected predation. Two host-specific parasites, the beaver fluke (Stichorchis subtriquetrus) and beaver beetle (Platypsyllus castoris) were also reintroduced.