How would cost of beaver impact compare with that of other wildlife?
Deer damage to agriculture alone in England has been estimated at £4.3 million, or £33 (€47) per km2 per annum (Wilson 2003). Rabbit damage has been cited as £44 (€63) / km2 per annum for Britain (Rees 1985) depending on the incidence of myxomatosis. In contrast to this, the Swedish government has concluded that their 100,000 beaver have no economic impact on a national scale. The Norwegian Forest Owners Association don’t consider damage to timber is significant enough to insure against. Equally, fisheries authorities, also in Norway, where there is a valuable salmon sport industry, consider there is no need to fund research given the minimal impact by beaver.
