Beavers have built their first dam in Exmoor for more than 400 years after they were released back into the wild.
The semi-aquatic rodents were seen gnawing on nearby trees and collecting vegetation to construct the dam across small channels on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset.
Rangers described the beavers as ‘ecosystem engineers’ as they created an ‘instant wetland’ just nine months after they were introduced to slow the flow of water and improve river quality.
The dams allow for deep pools of water, which offer animals shelter from predators and a place to store food, and turns the surrounding land into a mosaic of nature-rich habitats.
Beaver dams, ponds and channels help human communities too – by preventing flooding through slowing, storing and filtering water as it flows downstream.
National Trust project manager Ben Eardley said: ‘It might look modest, but this beaver dam is incredibly special.
‘It’s the first to appear on Exmoor for almost half a millennium and marks a step change in how we manage the landscape.
‘What’s amazing is that it’s only been here a few weeks but has created an instant wetland.
‘We’ve already spotted kingfishers at the site, and over time, as the beavers extend their network of dams and pools, we should see increased opportunities for other wildlife, including amphibians, insects, bats and birds.’
He added: ‘The recent rain we’ve had is a reminder of the significant role beavers can play in engineering the landscape.
‘As we face into the effects of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, natural interventions like this need to be part of the solution.’
Beavers became extinct in the 16th century after they were hunted for their meat, fur and scent glands, but since the early 2000s, they have been reintroduced at a handful of sites in Britain.
Nature group Rewilding Britain said a massive increase in restoring and connecting habitats is needed to help save wildlife forced to move because of climate change, and the reintroduction of beavers is key to helping with this.
The beavers at Holnicote were relocated from wild populations on the River Tay catchment in Scotland, under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage.
They settled into a specially-built 2.7-acre enclosure on the estate in January and have been monitored by National Trust and Exeter University staff and volunteers since.
The project is part of the trust’s Riverlands programme which aims to revive UK rivers by boosting wildlife, water quality, community engagement and tackling the effects of climate change.
A separate five-year trial on the River Otter in Devon was also recently hailed a success by the Government which is now considering a national strategy for the reintroduction of beavers.
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