Wildlife wardens at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve in Norfolk have captured rare footage of beaver kits playing in a river and learning how to build a dam.
The three youngsters are the latest members to join the Norfolk family, which now stands at seven.
“The arrival of the three kits is a hugely positive sign for the health of the reserve’s ecosystem and a boon for the UK’s beaver population," says Adrian Blumfield, Operations Director at the Hawk and Owl Trust, which manages the reserve.
England's total Eurasian beaver population is around 500.
“While the beavers are most active at dawn and dusk, making daytime sightings less frequent, our volunteer monitoring wardens have compiled some incredible video footage of the kits exploring the world around them, splashing around in the water and even working together to build a new dam," says Blumfield.
"Watching these amazing creatures interact with each other and their environment is a truly exceptional experience."
Beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK in the 16th century for their fur, meat and the oil from their scent glands.
Efforts to reintroduce the species over the past few decades mean England’s population is now steadily growing.
In 2022, two beavers were introduced to Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve as part of a five-year project to improve biodiversity and encourage more birds of prey to the site. In 2023 they had two kits. The recent arrival of three more kits brings the reserve's total tally to seven.
"We welcome all visitors to join us at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve during our daily opening hours of 9am-4pm to learn more about beavers and the vital role they play in supporting a rich tapestry of wildlife,” says Blumfield.
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