Great news to end the week

Beaver release at Wallington going 'swimmingly' as baby kit is born one year on - National Trust

The National Trust has announced the birth of the first baby beaver (a kit) to be born on the Wallington Estate in Northumberland for over 400 years, following the release of a family of Eurasian beavers last year.

The National Trust has announced the birth of the first baby beaver (a kit) to be born on the Wallington Estate in Northumberland for over 400 years, following the release of a family of Eurasian beavers last year.

Estimated to have been born in late May, the kits arrival is less than twelve months after the conservation charity released four beavers into an enclosure on the 12 July 2023.

After spotting a heavily pregnant female back in May, the Wallington team have waited with anticipation for confirmation of a successful birth.

Recent footage captured on static camera’s placed within the 24 hectare enclosure clearly shows the kit heading back into the family lodge with its mother as well as taking a dip, moving off the embankment into the water.

Helen McDonald, the National Trust’s Lead Ranger at Wallington said: “We are thrilled that after an absence of around 400 years we now have beavers back and breeding at Wallington. They have put a lot of effort into building and maintaining their lodges and getting their family settled, showing great perseverance and resilience during their relocation and then during the floods we’ve had over the last year. This spring we’ve had our eyes glued to trail camera footage, looking out for signs of breeding and to see whether the adult female beaver was lactating. It’s 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. We’ll continue to monitor the family to check on their health and condition and follow the new kit’s progress.”