The ‘incredibly exciting’ sighting is dam good news for Somerset
Beavers were hunted to extinction in Somerset 400 years ago. In February, they returned.(Image: National Trust)
Beavers have been born near Minehead for the first time in 400 years. The kits were born in May or June on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate on Exmoor, after being reintroduced to the area to fight climate change.
In February 2026, 11 beavers were released into the wild on the estate. It was a long-awaited homecoming: beavers were previously hunted to extinction in England centuries ago.
Now, their kits have been spotted by a live-stream camera outside ‘Beaver Lodge’. Somerset coast and countryside manager at the National Trust Simon Larkin said: “It’s incredibly exciting to welcome the first wild beaver kits to be born on Exmoor for more than 400 years.
“Since their release, the beavers have been busy exploring their new territory, building lodges and settling into life on the estate, helping us in our ambition to restore nature across a huge swathe of Somerset.
“Seeing them successfully raise their young is a wonderful sign that they’re thriving here.”
Eager beavers
Beaver and wetlands project officer Jack Siviter said: “We’ve all been eagerly watching the live trail camera for signs of the offspring. We have people all over the world logging in to watch the livestream.
“Beavers are largely nocturnal, so having lots of pairs of eyes checking the camera from across the globe, has helped us spot the fluffy young kit as they make their first forays out into the wetlands.
“As mammals, the baby beavers spend the first six weeks of their lives inside the lodge, where they’re entirely dependent on their mother for milk.”
He continued: “Once they’re around six weeks old, they begin venturing out and gradually start weaning onto solid food and exploring their environment.
“The kits are much easier to spot than the adults as they are only about the size of a guinea pig and float much higher in the water, making them easier to distinguish on camera.”
The Holnicote Estate is run by the National Trust(Image: National Trust & Nick Upton)
Dam good news for nature
Beavers are climate heroes: by building dams, digging canals and creating wetlands, they help reduce the risk of flooding while also creating habitats for a range of wildlife.
Jack added: “Beavers were once a familiar part of Exmoor’s rivers before they were hunted to extinction in England centuries ago.
“Their return is helping us reconnect floodplains, restore natural land management processes and build a landscape that’s better able to cope with both flooding and drought.
“We’ve already seen a remarkable increase in wildlife around the wetlands they’ve created, including snipe, swallows and water voles, alongside many other wetland species.
“Reintroducing beavers is an important step in our work to restore nature and improve climate resilience. Seeing the first wild kits born here is another significant milestone, and we look forward to watching them grow.”
You can watch a livestream of Beaver Lodge on YouTube. Beavers are mostly nocturnal, so you’ll have the best chance of seeing them if you tune in at dawn or dusk.