{"id":39801,"date":"2024-07-12T15:52:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T13:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/80343773-b363-46c4-86f4-6c3af56b5020"},"modified":"2024-07-12T16:27:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T14:27:31","slug":"camera-traps-offer-glimpse-of-first-beaver-born-in-northumberland-for-400-years","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/camera-traps-offer-glimpse-of-first-beaver-born-in-northumberland-for-400-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Camera traps offer glimpse of first beaver born in Northumberland for 400 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just over one month old, the baby beaver can be seen playing in the water with its mum at Wallington Estate in north-east England. <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 12 July 2024 at 13:52 PM<\/p>

\n\n

For the first time in over 400 years, a beaver<\/a> has been born in Northumberland, England.<\/strong><\/p>

The birth follows the release of a family of Eurasian\u00a0beavers at Wallington Estate<\/a> last year.<\/p>

\u201cWe are thrilled that after an absence of around 400 years we now have\u00a0beavers back and breeding at Wallington,” said Helen McDonald, the National Trust\u2019s Lead Ranger at Wallington.<\/p>

\u201cThis spring we\u2019ve had our eyes glued to trail camera footage, looking out for signs of breeding and to see whether the adult female\u00a0beaver\u00a0was lactating. <\/p>

“It\u2019s such a relief that they have bred successfully and to see a new fluffy kit swimming with the family, we know now they must feel at home here at Wallington.”<\/p>

Watch: the kit plays with it mum near the family lodge. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
How beavers are saving the ‘most photographed village in England’.<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
The family of\u00a0 Eurasian beavers<\/a>\u00a0were released on the 5,431-hectare National Trust estate last year to help re-establish populations cross the county \u2013 and Britain more widely \u2013 following their extinction in the 16th-century.<\/p>
Often nicknamed ‘ecosystem engineers’, the large rodents can help restore ‘at risk’ habitats, allowing other wildlife to thrive. Beavers also play an important role in creating habitats that are more resilient to the effects of climate change, for example\u00a0 flooding events and drought<\/a>.<\/p>
Time for dinner: the baby beaver chomps on some grass. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\u201cSince welcoming the family of beavers to Wallington the resulting impact on the water environment has been nothing short of astonishing,” said Paul Hewitt, Countryside Manager for the National Trust at Wallington.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cAs a keystone species<\/a> we have watched with keen interest as beavers do what beavers do, expertly altering their river environment to the massive benefit of other species. With the development of dams, we are starting to see the benefits of beavers in slowing water flows and making the flood plain more resilient to future climate change.”<\/p>
In just one year, there has been a noticeable increase in resident trout, says the National Trust, along with more regular visits from kingfishers<\/a> and grey herons<\/a>. There are more insects at the site, too, thanks to the organic matter that builds up behind the dams, which in turn provides food for Daubenton\u2019s bats<\/a>.<\/p>
Footage of beavers released on 12 July 2023 at Wallington Estate in Northumberland. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Wallington’s beavers are looked after by a team of over 25 National Trust volunteers, who work alongside the ranger team, checking fences and monitoring the wellbeing of the animals.<\/p>
Their tasks will now include monitoring the new kit\u2019s progress.<\/p>
The team are hopeful that the growing wetlands will see even more species diversification at Wallington in the coming months and years.<\/p>
More amazing wildlife stories<\/strong><\/p>
Three adorable baby beavers filmed “splashing around in the water”<\/a><\/li>
Scientists stunned to find rare ocean bird that actually chases tropical cyclones<\/a><\/li>
Stunning aerial video shows the world\u2019s largest land mammal migration in South Sudan<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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