In the early 16th century, wild beavers in England were hunted to extinction. However, trail cameras have now captured a wild beaver in Norfolk.
According to The Guardian , cameras spotted beavers hauling materials to build huts on the River Winsome at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, Norfolk.
Although beavers began making a comeback in the British countryside about a decade ago, this marks the first time a wild beaver has been sighted in the area.
Richard Spowage, the nature reserve’s manager, told the Guardian: “No one knows where it came from, but it found what I think is perfect beaver habitat.”
Beavers are known as nature’s architects because they enhance the landscape and mitigate flooding, soil erosion and drought by building ponds, dams and channels.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut have even found that they help recharge groundwater. Because groundwater helps purify streams during hot, dry seasons, this makes the animals’ work crucial.
Spovich had an inkling that there was a beaver somewhere on the preserve after seeing “classic beaver fragments” on tree roots. This led him to set up camera traps in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the creature.
The use of such cameras by wildlife authorities is one of the best ways to document wildlife, especially rare and elusive species that like to remain hidden, as this technology simplifies documentation.
Additionally, cameras are safer and less stressful for wildlife because no direct human interaction is required. This lack of interaction also allows wildlife to continue engaging in natural behaviors, which can help inform conservation efforts.
For example, cameras captured footage of one of the world’s most elusive cats in the Andes Mountains of South America, and conservation groups have been waiting three years to see it. Although sightings of Andean wildcats have only occurred 10 times in the past 25 years, the footage allows conservationists to continue monitoring the animal without disturbing it.
Wildlife cameras also allow experts to monitor the health of endangered species populations to assess the progress of conservation and recovery efforts, which is valuable for smart wildlife management.
Cameras like this also bring hope to the power of conservation efforts. As Spovich explained to the Guardian, “It hadn’t been seen in Norfolk for hundreds of years, and it was a very special moment to see it living out its life there.”
Get TCD’s free newsletter for simple tips to save more, reduce waste and make smarter choices, and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.
