A trail camera in Somerset spotted a rare baby beaver recently, according to the BBC.

This is the first beaver offspring seen at the site between the communities of Frome and Bruton. Heal Rewilding has been rehabilitating it since 2022 and set up the trail cameras when a lactating beaver was spotted. 

"We created a 'no-go' zone to give the beavers some peace and quiet," they wrote on Facebook. "Then came the hard part of sitting back and waiting!"

Sure enough, the trail camera paid off with some excellent footage. "This is amazing news and we couldn't be happier that our rewilding site is now home to a growing beaver family!" said Heal Rewilding after reviewing the video. 

Trail cameras are vital tools for wildlife professionals to gauge population health without disturbing animals in their habitat. These cameras have been able to spot rare herons in India, snow leopards in China, and wolf packs in action.  With high-quality information, protection measures can be properly supported. 

By effectively engineering the landscape, beavers play a hugely beneficial role in both flood and drought prevention. Dams can retain water during a drought so it can be released gradually and simultaneously prevent rapid overflow of waterways. Concerted reintroduction campaigns across the UK have seen beaver numbers growing in Dorset, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire.

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Heal Rewilding remains optimistic about the future of its Somerset location. 

"Seeing these ecosystem engineers on our land is the most exciting wildlife event since we arrived at the site," said Heal Rewilding CEO Jan Stannard at the beaver's first sighting. "They are a sign of nature taking back some control and could provide a crucial first step for natural processes to take shape. 

"Beavers create thriving ecosystems by building dams, digging canals, and creating habitats rich in valuable dead wood. They restore wetland areas which reduces flood risks,and helps us adapt to the impacts of climate change. We really hope that they will find the habitat suitable and remain for the long term."

Anyone interested in protecting habitat for the continued flourishing of this new beaver family can donate to Heal Rewilding.

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