Two beavers released into the wild on Exmoor earlier this year have formed a pair, with conservationists observing behaviors that suggest a burgeoning relationship. Trail-camera footage from the National Trust's Holnicote Estate shows the rodents grooming each other and spending time in close proximity, indicating they are settling into the landscape and establishing social bonds.
The animals were released in February as part of the second wild release of beavers on National Trust land and the third in England since last year. Mathieu Burtschell, a National Trust ranger, described the pairing as "really exciting."
"When the animals were released, we hoped they would explore the landscape, establish territories and begin forming the relationships that are so important to a healthy beaver population," Burtschell said. "The fact that they have paired up is a good indication that they have found the right conditions at Holnicote, with enough suitable habitat, food and space to establish a territory together."
Beavers, the world's second-largest rodent, typically live in small family groups centered around an adult pair that usually mates for life. The beavers are largely active at night, making trail cameras a valuable tool for monitoring their activities. If the pair remains together, they may establish their own family group and contribute to strengthening the beaver population across the estate.
Once established in a territory, beaver dams, canals, and wetlands can create new habitats for wildlife and help retain water in the landscape. The release of these beavers is part of the National Trust's broader initiative to restore rivers, wetlands, and floodplains across the 5,000-hectare Holnicote Estate in Somerset. The monitoring of these beavers aims to provide insights into how they adapt to the wild, their movement patterns, and their impact on the surrounding habitat.