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In March 2025, beavers made a special mark in Dorset history. For the first time, a team from the National Trust released them into the wild. The animals were set free from fences at a nature reserve called Studland. This event was a very important moment for the beaver species. Now, after one year of challenges and changes, the story looks different. One of the two licensed pairs seems to have found a permanent home. However, the story has had some very sad parts too. Last summer, one of the beavers died during a hot season. Conservationists are still searching for its mate to see if she is alive.
The past twelve months taught volunteers a big lesson about nature. They learned to always expect the unexpected when working with wild animals. People planned carefully for many years to bring wild beavers back to the area. However, something arrived before the official team could finish their work. In 2024, a pair of unlicensed beavers was found by locals. They were already living at Little Sea lake, which was the exact spot chosen for the official release. This surprise discovery changed things for Britain's first wild beaver release.
Little Sea covers about 33 hectares of land, which is roughly 80 acres. It is a large freshwater lake that was meant for the new animals. Despite the new arrivals being released far away, they were not welcomed there. Beavers are very territorial animals, meaning they protect their own space from others. Experts think the new pair was pushed out of their chosen spot. They were forced to find a new home where no one could predict.
One female beaver appeared in a stream near public toilets in town. She built a home in the center of Swanage, which surprised everyone. Gen Crisford, the project manager, recalled the big surprise of that day. In April, a local person called to say they saw a beaver nearby. The National Trust believes this female swam about 5 kilometers to get there. She swam around the famous Old Harry Rocks on the coast. She likely did this to escape the other pair waiting in the lake. Mark Singleton noted she was at too much risk in the town. She was recaptured by the team and returned to Little Sea.
The reunion did not last long for the two beavers. Once together, the pair tried to leave the lake again. They found a new home at a local swimming pool, but that was not a good place. The team had to apologize and say they could not stay there. The pair was moved out of that location to find a better spot.
The third time proved to be lucky for the first pair of beavers. The two beavers kept moving, but they finally found a suitable home. They started changing the landscape around them to create a perfect life. This was very good news for this specific pair of animals. However, a hot summer and a disaster were coming for the other pair. The South of England had the warmest summer on record that year. Studland suffered from a severe lack of rain that season. Water levels in the lake dropped very low.
The remaining new pair started to move to find water. They had settled in the north of Little Sea before leaving. In July, the male beaver looked for a new place to live. He did not find a wet habitat nearby in the forest. Instead, he went to the sea to look for food. He tried to swim in the ocean but did not survive the attempt. The area is now watched closely for signs of the female. So far, she has not been seen by anyone.
While the established beavers thrive and raise kits, the new arrivals set up home away from the original site. The settled pair has made a big impact on the land. A shady brook has been opened up to create a wetland area. A dam that is 35 meters long holds back the water. This created deeper channels for the beavers to swim in. Tree stumps show clear teeth marks from the beavers' work. Fallen trees dot the landscape where they have been working.
Trail cameras have captured other wildlife visiting the new wetland habitat.
Images show an otter and a hunting barn owl sharing the space. Early this year, the pair was seen mating together in the water. The hope is that kits will be born this summer. Gen Crisford said the habitat change makes up for the trouble. She noted that all things considered, it has been a positive year. She acknowledged that the death of one animal is very sad. However, she explained that it is not unusual for these projects. They must take it in their stride and keep moving forward. This tragedy will not stop their important work.
The next step is to look at the larger landscape around them. The team plans releases in other locations in the future. They will learn from this past year to do better. They want to ensure the success of future beaver families. The experience shows how wild life can be unpredictable.