Image: Canva
For the first time in more than 500 years, wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk, marking an extraordinary milestone in the county’s wildlife recovery. Because they were the first wild beavers recorded in Norfolk since the native species was hunted to extinction in England at the beginning of the 16th century, the adults were already a historic sighting. Because it confirms that Norfolk’s unexpected beaver return has progressed from an isolated arrival to successful breeding, their birth is significant. Because their dams can alter water levels, the proposal comes as debate continues over beavers’ impact on farmland, particularly. The Norfolk kits could therefore become the beginning of a much larger ecological transformation.
The newspaper reported that the kits are around three months old and have already been seen chewing branches and leaves and feeding on willow and water mint. The newspaper also reported that an adult had previously been filmed tail-slapping at an otter, while one of the young beavers has now learnt to perform the same defensive action.
He described the discovery as “amazing”. Two young Eurasian beavers have been discovered at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, months after an adult pair unexpectedly appeared along the River Wensum. Now, the birth of their offspring suggests the animals have moved beyond simply returning to the county and are beginning to establish a family group. The kits, believed to be around three months old, have been captured on camera exploring the river and feeding on vegetation. Their arrival has also raised a bigger question: could Norfolk become home to a permanent wild beaver population after centuries without one? Two beaver kits discovered at Norfolk nature reserve (Image: Canva) The kits are already displaying behaviours that could help them survive as they grow. They have been learning to dive into the river and slap their tails against the water when they want to warn of danger. Pensthorpe is now crowdfunding to support an application to Natural England seeking permission to introduce additional wild beavers legally into the Wensum. Such a project would involve studies of the river system, staff training and discussions with multiple stakeholders. Yet their ability to manage water could also benefit landscapes during increasingly hot and dry conditions. One farmer had described a beaver-built reservoir on his land containing about three million litres of water.
