AssetID: 55975956
Headline: Love at first bite: Two of U.K's newly released beavers caught in a clinch
Caption: **Issued under embargo until 00.01hrs Saturday 5 September 2026** **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** BY MARK WORGAN Two of the first beavers released onto Exmoor have found love and been caught cuddling up together. Trail-camera footage from the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate on Exmoor has revealed that the male and female, released into the wild earlier this year appear to have formed a pair - a relationship that could last a lifetime. The animals were among several beavers released across the estate in February and March under licence from Natural England, with support from Beaver Trust. Footage shows the two animals grooming each other and spending time close together, suggesting they are settling into their new surroundings and well and truly loved up. The release was the second of wild beavers on National Trust land, and the third in England, since a change in policy in spring 2025. The animals came from distinct genetic groups and were introduced with the aim of establishing a healthy and genetically diverse wild population. Mathieu Burtschell, Ranger in the National Trust’s Somerset Coast and Countryside team, said: “Seeing these two beavers together on the trail camera is really exciting. When the animals were released, we hoped they would explore the landscape, establish territories and begin forming the relationships that are so important to a healthy beaver population. "The fact that they have paired up is a good indication that they have found the right conditions at Holnicote, with enough suitable habitat, food and space to establish a territory together. “They are largely active at night, so trail cameras give us a valuable window into what they are doing when we are not there. If the pair remains together, they could eventually establish their own family group and help strengthen the beaver population across the estate.” Beavers typically live in small family groups centred around an adult pair, which usually mate for life. Once established in a territory, their dams, canals and wetlands can create new habitats for wildlife while helping to retain water in the landscape for longer. The February release, funded by Admiral, formed part of the National Trust’s wider work to restore rivers, wetlands and floodplains across the 5,000-hectare Holnicote Estate. The beavers are being monitored to understand how they settle, move through the catchment and shape the surrounding habitat.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,beavers,love
PersonInImage: