Beavers have been reintroduced to Scotland and England after centuries of absence. Their welfare in reintroduction programmes and growing human conflict situations raises interesting questions.
Beavers being reintroduced face stress from capture, translocation, and release into unfamiliar territory. Monitoring typically involves trap-and-release with radio collar fitting — a process causing acute but short-term welfare harm. Beavers that cause agricultural flooding or tree damage may be trapped and relocated or, under licence, killed — a process that is carefully managed but involves welfare harms. The welfare of beaver families — which are monogamous and raise kits communally — means that removing individuals disrupts social bonds. Overall, reintroduced beavers in well-managed schemes appear to achieve positive welfare outcomes.