Baby beavers born in Scotland for the first time in 400 years

The first beaver kits in 400 years have been born in the Scottish Highlands.

There are known to be at least two baby beavers in Loch Beinn and Mheadhoin in Glen Affric.

The pair are thought to have been born in May or June, before first emerging from the beavers’ lodge during the past few weeks.

It follows a reintroduction project by rewilding charity Trees for Life and government agency Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS). FLS and Trees for Life began work on the initiative in 2022, supported by Beaver Trust.

The birth of the kits follows the release of a first family of five beavers and a beaver pair at two sites on the loch in Glen Affric National Nature Reserve last October, and the release of a further family of four beavers in February.

Beavers are nocturnal and can be hard to spot in the wild.

But wildlife cameras have captured images of the kits – including one playing alongside its mother.

Tobias Leask, Trees for Life’s locally based Beaver Management Officer, said “These beaver kits symbolise a wildlife success story four centuries in the making, and how nature can recover when we give it a chance.

“Seeing them for the first time is something I’ll never forget. It was one of those rare moments when you realise you’re witnessing history.

“These young animals represent the first generation of beavers that will help shape Glen Affric’s future – creating wetlands that support countless other species, improve water quality and build resilience to climate change. It’s a wonderful milestone for everyone involved in the project.”

Mr Leask has also established a volunteer group of local people who monitor how the beavers are settling in and their activity, so that the wider community can be kept up to speed on how the animals are getting on.

The project helps to deliver Scotland’s national beaver strategy, as well as a Scottish Government directive for public agencies to seek beaver reintroductions on state-owned land out of existing beaver range.