Wild Beavers return to Norfolk after 500 years, have kits, spark new hopes

For the first time in more than 500 years, wild beaver kits have been born in Norfolk, marking an extraordinary milestone in the county’s wildlife recovery. Two young Eurasian beavers have been discovered at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, months after an adult pair unexpectedly appeared along the River Wensum. The adults were already a historic sighting because they were the first wild beavers recorded in Norfolk since the native species was hunted to extinction in England at the beginning of the 16th century. Now, the birth of their offspring suggests the animals have moved beyond simply returning to the county and are beginning to establish a family group. The kits, believed to be around three months old, have been captured on camera exploring the river and feeding on vegetation. Their arrival has also raised a bigger question: could Norfolk become home to a permanent wild beaver population after centuries without one?Two beaver kits discovered at Norfolk nature reserveThe two kits were found at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, where their parents had mysteriously established themselves in December 2025. The adult pair built a lodge on the River Wensum and becam...