Baby beaver boom on Exmoor in Somerset as three kits are born in conservation success story - National Trust
Three baby beavers (kits) have been born at two different beaver enclosures on the Holnicote Estate near Minehead, Somerset, where the National Trust re-introduced beavers for the first time in 400 years in January 2020.
One kit has become the sixth member of the family living at the National Trust’s ‘Paddocks’ enclosure at Holnicote, where Rashford became the first kit born on the estate in 400 years in 2021, followed by twins Russo and Toone last summer. All three were named after England’s football stars after the public were invited to help name the kits – with the final choices coming down to a public vote.
Yet to be named, the latest new arrival is already being shown the benefits of ‘eco-engineering’; how to make positive changes to the area through building dams and creating new pools to attract wildlife by its older siblings.
Jack Siviter, National Trust ranger working on the beaver project said, “The beavers at ‘Paddocks’ are a tight family team. We see them grooming each other, playing and working together to improve the site and create healthy habitats which can support a broad range of species such as dragonflies and toads.”
George Layton, another of the National Trust ranger team at Holnicote added, “The habitat within the beaver sites is already much healthier than before their introduction and is absolutely brimming with wildlife. Beavers are brilliant creatures that through their ‘engineering’ create new ponds, leave standing deadwood – the rarest type of deadwood, where dead trees and branches remain rooted into the ground, forming vitally important habitats for invertebrates – as well as opening up fantastic glades where more light can hit the woodland floor so beetles, butterflies and even water voles can thrive.”
Posted On: 04/08/2023
More on: