First baby beaver born in Northumberland in 400 years announced
The baby was believed to have been born in late May at Wallington Estate
The first wild baby beaver to be born in Northumberland in over four centuries has been announced by the National Trust.
Beavers were reintroduced to the local ecosystem at the Wallington Estate in Northumberland late last year.
Since then, the Eurasian beavers have already begun to return the estate to its natural habitat.
Some months after the family of beavers were released, the team at Wallington spotted a heavily pregnant female beaver in early May.
The pregnant beaver then went missing for some time, before the kit was confirmed to have been born, as it followed its mother into the family lodge.
Footage caught on security cameras also saw the baby beaver having a swim in the water, gradually adapting to its new way of life.
Speaking on the news, the National Trust Lead Ranger of the Wallington Estate, Helen McDonald, said that the new arrival is a pivotal moment for the reintroduction of beavers into the British Isles.
"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," she explained.
“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.”