We have been closely monitoring the pair of Eurasian beavers Castor fiber since their release and it has been clear that they have formed a strong bond in the time they have been on site, and this latest discovery is further evidence of this, alongside their industrious dam building activity. The trail cams have only identified one kit so far, but beavers can typically have one to four kits in a litter, and we are discreetly observing their activity to see if any others have been born.  Seeing the first kit is an incredibly exciting moment for the project and breeding is a clear indication of normal behaviour and that the adult pair are healthy and happily settled in their Dorset surroundings.

Eurasian beavers are social animals living in small family groups, typically consisting of an adult pair and 2 generations of young.  Mating occurs once a year in the winter months between December and February, and if successful, after a gestation period of around 105 days, the young are then born during spring.  The mother gives birth in the lodge and the kits remain within the safety of this underground burrow and chamber structure for the first 1 to 2 months of their lives, feeding on their mother’s milk.  The kits are however born fully furred with the ability to swim so after this time they start to venture outside of the lodge, exploring their parents’ territory, whilst foraging and feeding on tree leaves, shoots, and aquatic plants.  Watch our newly discovered beaver kit feeding on willow leaves in the video below.

After three months, the kits will be weaned off their mother’s milk and will broaden their vegetative diet to match their herbivorous parents - see April's Beaver Blog to find out more about what beavers eat - beaver kits are small and vulnerable to predation early in their lives from fox, badger, otter and possibly mink, but the parents will be protective of them until they become adults and reach sexual maturity at around two years old.