First beaver kits in 400 years born in the wild in the Cairngorms National Park

Beavers released in the Cairngorms National Park have successfully bred and given birth to two kits, making them the first wild-born beavers in the Cairngorms in over 400 years. The beaver kits were born to two of the six family groups that have been translocated to the upper Spey catchment, as part of a coordinated effort to re-establish the species in the Cairngorms National Park.

Beavers are known as ‘ecosystem engineers’ – by changing and re-naturalising the landscape around them they help restore our rivers and wetlands, which in turn helps reduce the impacts of climate change and boost biodiversity.

Sarah Henshall, Head of Conservation at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “This is a really exciting milestone in our project to bring beavers back to the Cairngorms National Park. We’ve been monitoring the beavers closely since the first releases in December and it’s encouraging that two of the beaver pairs have already bred successfully.

“There are also encouraging signs of breeding behaviour at other locations – including evidence of them busily expanding their lodges – so we are hopeful that there will be more kits to come. Today’s news is another positive step towards establishing a sustainable population of beavers in the National Park.

“To get to this point in the journey of bringing beavers back to the Cairngorms National Park, there has been extensive engagement with the agricultural community, fishing interests, the public and other key stakeholders. We have to thank the land owners and all the partners involved for their hard work and support of this project.”

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “The successful birth of a kit is what all the partners on this project have been hoping for this summer. With any translocation of a species there are no guarantees that the animals will settle, so for two pairs to have bred successfully proves the work that has gone into identifying suitable habitat and locations has been worthwhile.”

The first kit was born to the pair of beavers that were released onto Wildland Cairngorms Ltd and the other kit is with a beaver family on Rothiemurchus.   This news comes as the Park Authority and partners are considering potential release locations for the second year of the project.  Following conversations with landowners and communities the project has developed a robust monitoring and mitigation plan for beaver that is specific to the Cairngorms and goes above and beyond the national scheme.  It will ensure that we maximise the benefits and minimise any negative impacts of beavers as they establish in the National Park.

Jenny Bryce, NatureScot Beaver Team Manager, said: “After all the hard work by the Park Authority and many others, it is so rewarding to see the beaver families moved to the Cairngorms National Park doing so well and producing their first kits. This project is an important step towards restoring beavers in Scotland, a species which provides many benefits for nature, creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, as well as moderating water flows and improving water quality.

“We will continue to work alongside the Park Authority, local people and organisations to closely monitor all the beaver families and assess their impact on the surrounding area. We are committed to helping solve any issues that might arise as the beavers settle into their new homes.”

For more information on the Bringing Beavers Back to the Cairngorms project, please visit the Cairngorms National Park website: cairngorms.co.uk/caring-future/cairngorms-nature/priority-species/beaver/