Key Takeaways:
- A wild beaver has been spotted in Norfolk, England, for the first time since the species was hunted to extinction in the 16th century.
- The beaver was filmed dragging logs and establishing a lodge in a nature reserve near Fakenham.
- The beaver’s origin is unknown, but it is possible that it was either released into the wild by activists or wandered into the area on its own.
- The discovery of the beaver is significant, as it is the first time a free-living beaver has been recorded in Norfolk since the species began to re-establish itself in England in 2015.
- The beaver is believed to have been living in an isolated area of the reserve for about a month, collecting willow trees and building a larder of bark to store near its home.
Introduction to the Beaver Sighting
A wild beaver has been spotted in Norfolk, England, for the first time in over 400 years. The beaver was filmed dragging logs and establishing a lodge in a "perfect beaver habitat" on the River Wensun at Pensthorpe, a nature reserve near Fakenham. This is a significant discovery, as it is the first time a free-living beaver has been recorded in Norfolk since the species began to re-establish itself in England in 2015. The beaver’s origin is unknown, but it is believed to have been living in an isolated area of the reserve for about a month.
The Beaver’s Habitat and Behavior
The beaver has been observed collecting willow trees at night and building a larder of bark to store near its home. This behavior is typical of beavers, which are nocturnal vegetarians that build complex homes and store food for the winter. The beaver’s habitat at Pensthorpe is ideal, with plenty of tree cover and access to adjacent marshes for hunting and foraging. The reserve’s manager, Richard Spowage, estimates that the beaver has been living in the area for about a month, and has been observed gathering food and building its home.
The Discovery of the Beaver
The beaver’s presence was first suspected when a volunteer noticed an oddly shaped tree stump that was "cut almost like a pointed stick". Initially, Spowage thought that the stump may have been cut by a person, but after spotting "classic beaver chips" at the base of another tree, he set camera traps to capture evidence of the beaver. The camera traps captured a lone beaver walking through the forest at night, confirming the presence of the animal. Spowage described the moment as "very special" and noted that the beaver is "just doing what a beaver does, which is cutting down trees and gathering food for the winter".
The Status of Beavers in England
The discovery of the beaver in Norfolk is significant, as it highlights the ongoing efforts to reintroduce beavers into the wild in England. Natural England, which advises the government on the natural environment, announced in March that it would begin issuing licenses to projects that aimed to reintroduce beavers into the wild. By August, the government had received 39 expressions of interest, 20 of which are from the Wildlife Trusts federation. However, only one population of beavers has been legally released into the wild so far in England, and it is not clear whether the Pensthorpe beaver was illegally released or wandered into the area on its own.
The Future of the Beaver
The origin of the Pensthorpe beaver is still unknown, and it is possible that it was either released into the wild by activists or wandered into the area on its own. Spowage doubts whether a wild beaver could have reached Norfolk by itself, but notes that the beaver is welcome to live at Pensthorpe. The Beaver Trust, a charity that aims to restore beavers to regenerate landscapes, believes that the beaver may be a naturally dispersing wild beaver, and notes that there are already 10 individual wild populations in England. Whatever its origin, the discovery of the beaver in Norfolk is a significant step forward for the species, and highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect and restore England’s natural environment.
