Beavers Born in Norfolk
Wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk for the first time in over 500 years, with a pair of newborns spotted at Pensthorpe nature reserve near Fakenham. The kits are the offspring of two free-living beavers who arrived at the reserve in December, with their origin still a mystery.
Wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk for the first time in more than 500 years, with a pair of newborns spotted at Pensthorpe nature reserve near Fakenham. The kits are the offspring of two free-living beavers who arrived at the reserve in December, with their origin still a mystery.
Introduction to the Beaver Family
The beaver couple, who have built a lodge on the River Wensum, are the first wild beavers recorded in Norfolk since the native species was hunted to extinction in England at the beginning of the 16th century. According to Richard Spowage, the reserve's manager, the pair's arrival is a welcome surprise, although some suspect they may have been illegally released by conservation activists.
Beaver Behaviour and Habitat
The kits, thought to be about three months old, have been observed to be very playful and are already becoming independent. They have been learning how to dive into the river and tailslap its surface to scare off predators. The beavers have also been clearing trees and digging tiny channels off to the sides of the river, which has opened up the reserve's rich fen habitat and allowed more light to reach the forest floor.
Impact on the Reserve and Future Plans
The impact of the beavers on the reserve has been minimal, with no dams or major constructions built on the river. However, by thinning some of the nearby woodland, the beavers have encouraged plant growth and created shallow river channels that have been used by various wildlife, including blue tits, great tits, and otters. The reserve is now crowdfunding to apply for permission to introduce more wild beavers into the Wensum, which would help to expand the population and provide a wider genetic pool.
The reserve's manager, Richard Spowage, hopes that introducing more beavers will help to alleviate the frustration many conservationists feel about the speed and scale of legal beaver releases in the UK. Natural England spokesperson Matt Heard said that reintroducing beavers to the landscape makes a huge difference to nature's recovery and can secure long-term environmental benefits. The beavers' ability to hold back and manage water has also been recognized as valuable for farmland in the current climate, with one farmer noting that a family of beavers on his land has built a reservoir containing 3m litres of water.
