Beavers at Sculthorpe Moor :- Nature’s Engineers

Diary of a Year Volunteering

The Beginnings

Our connection with the Beavers began with a request for volunteers to help at the Hawk and Owl Trust Sculthorpe Moor reserve. Initially it was to help with the construction of an enclosure. Erecting posts and fixing a 2 kilometre wire fence so that they couldn’t dig their way out. This was a daunting task in itself. Also some ditches and streams were dug within a wooded area of the enclosure enabling the beavers to move around the woodland areas . All of this was completed by any army of enthusiastic volunteers and staff over the winter of 2021. This was in preparation for the arrival of two beavers in spring. One was a male from a population in Scotland and the other a female from a similar project in Yorkshire.

The Beavers’ Release

In spring 2022, the exciting moment we had been anticipating finally arrived! After careful preparations, both beavers were released into their new home in late April. Both guests and volunteers watched as the beavers begun to explore their new surroundings. With a number of trail cameras set up we soon noticed how they began to adapt to their new environment. Within a few weeks it was obvious the beavers had started to work on transforming the area.

Monitoring and Assessing

Over the following months, as part of our dedicated volunteer team, we made fortnightly visits to the site. Our task was to monitor the beavers’ activity in the enclosure, tracking any changes they had made to the environment. Ensuring the security of the enclosure’s fences was also a part of our remit. While the beavers’ impact on the wooded areas and watercourses was immediately evident, observing their health was a challenge.

Realising that it was going to take a considerable amount of time to monitor six trail cameras volunteers were required. We volunteered to help with the monitoring of the cameras and recording the beavers activities. So in October 2022 we began our regular visits to the site collecting the video footage and recording the data in order to build a more comprehensive understanding of their behaviour and their health status. Especially during the winter months when there was little chance of seeing them in the daylight. Over the next few months the trail cameras proved to be an invaluable addition to the monitoring efforts, capturing fascinating videos and still images of the beavers in their new habitat.

The Beavers at Poplar Pool

Within weeks of camera checks we began to collect valuable footage of distinct beaver activities. Yet, distinguishing one beaver from another proved to be a perplexing challenge. Our first major breakthrough with the cameras came when a large poplar tree was brought down across a pool near the pond where they were released. We nicknamed this location the “Poplar Pool” Here, we captured the beavers meticulously stripping branches and bark over the course of a week.

From that point onward, until spring emerged, we strategically positioned our cameras based on the reports of volunteers. They were checking the fencing and noting areas where beavers were actively working. Whilst we were able to document their health and any intriguing behaviours.

More Wildlife

Our explorations within the wooded areas led to more than just beaver sightings. We were fortunate to stumble upon the trails used by the reserve’s diverse wildlife. During the winter, the cameras captured the movements of stoats, hares, muntjac, roe deer, and even a pair of otters. These creatures seemed to navigate the waterways and tracks carved by the beavers, revealing the interconnected web of life thriving within this flourishing ecosystem.

Other Species caught on the Trail Cameras

Species	Recorded on Camera	Species	Recorded on Camera
Muntjac	Regularly	Shoveler	Rarely
Roe Deer	Occasionally	Kingfisher	Rarely
Hare	Regularly	Tawny Owl	Rarely
Otter	Regularly	Jay	Occasionally
Stoat	Regularly	Mallard	Regularly
Weasel	Rarely	Greylag	Regularly
Polecat	Rarely	Moorhen	Regularly
Rat	Regularly	Coot	Regularly
Water Vole	Occasionally	Great White egret	Occasionally
Hedgehog	Regularly	Heron	Occasionally
Wood Mouse	Regularly	Buzzard	Rarely
Fox	Rarely	Woodcock	Rarely
Rabbit	Occasionally	Water Shrew	Rarely

The Beavers First winter

In the ensuing winter months, our efforts bore fruit as we consistently captured images of the beavers . On a couple of occasions, our cameras recorded footage of the two gnawing away at the same tree. Alongside our fellow volunteers, we began to discern signs of what appeared to be the initial stages of a lodge along the main drain. This promising development was spotted on one of the banks with the entrance to the lodge via a number of underwater burrows. The beavers seemed to be laying the foundation for a retreat, a true testament to their remarkable adaptability and industrious nature!

Evidence of Beaver activity

In the ongoing efforts to maintain the security of the enclosure, the volunteers and staff make regular fence checks. But it’s not just about security; we’re also keenly observing the area for any signs of beaver activity. It was interesting to witness how the beavers were adapting and making themselves at home in their new habitat.

Hints of Maternity

As winter gradually gave way to spring, our trail cameras revealed an intriguing development in the beaver world. One of the beavers appeared noticeably larger and moved at a more deliberate pace. The hope from the volunteers and staff was that this might be signs of impending beaver parenthood. However, the elusive nature of these creatures, active mainly under the cover of night, made confirmation a challenging endeavour.

Our continued monitoring of the cameras was soon rewarded when we observed a significant shift in the beavers’ behaviour. They began to spend more time in the vicinity of the lodge they had constructed. Then, in April our cameras captured the beavers feeding on a hawthorn bush they had skillfully felled. Upon closer examination of the video frames, unmistakable signs of teats became apparent, suggesting that this particular individual was tending to young offspring. Hope soared that, in due course, we might witness the presence of beaver kits, ushering in a new generation after only a year.

Staking Out the Lodge

As the daylight hours lengthened, a new window of opportunity opened in our beaver-watching endeavours. Our trail cameras, usually reserved for nocturnal glimpses, began to capture the beavers venturing out during the early evening. It didn’t take us long to hatch a plan based on this newfound behaviour. With the warmth and light of May evenings, we devised a strategy to capture live footage of the beavers in action. Armed with a couple of chairs and a picnic , we staked out an observation point overlooking the drain near their lodge in the late afternoon.

Our patience was rewarded sooner than expected. A distinctive bow wave rippling down the drain, heralding the approach of a beaver. Followed by a head emerging from the water, swimming towards an area marked by signs of feeding activity. Our cameras clicked to life, capturing live images of at least one of the adult beavers and recording their activity on video. With our first successful stakeout under our belts, we planned a return visit for the following week, in the hopes of adding to the collection of photos and videos.

First Sighting

Our return to the drain the following week revealed new and intriguing developments. Reviewing the footage from our trail cameras, we noticed a significant change: the water levels in the drain had begun to drop, likely due to a stretch of warm weather. Settling in at the same observation point from the previous week, we awaited the telltale sign of the approaching beaver—a distinctive bow wave in the water.

This time, however, the beaver did something different. It vanished into what seemed to be a burrow in the bank, right at the water’s edge, near the vicinity of the lodge. Emerging after a few minutes, the beaver carried what initially appeared to be a lump of timber in its mouth. Quick reflexes allowed us to snap a few shots with our cameras, but something about this scene seemed unusual. On closer examination of the image and to our astonishment the “lump of wood” was, in fact, a kit! We had what we think is a rare image … a beaver swimming with a kit in its mouth.

We continued to watch as the adult beaver swam along the drain, carrying the kit. Eventually, it carefully pushed the kit up the bank near a newly constructed lodge. The amazement didn’t end there. The adult then retraced its steps along the bank to the very spot where it had disappeared earlier, only to emerge with another kit in its mouth. It swam once more to the new lodge, gently placing the second kit amidst the reeds on the bank.

Summer Evenings

Exciting news! Two beaver kits were born this year Witnessing the birth and growth of these young ones has been a heartwarming experience for all of us volunteers. The kits have brought renewed energy and joy to the project. Their playful antics have kept us entertained and motivated to continue our conservation efforts.

As this summer draws to a close looking back, it’s astonishing to see how much the volunteers, staff and the beavers have accomplished. From the construction of the enclosure to the release of the beavers, and now the birth of the kits

The volunteers and staff work at the Sculthorpe reserve doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning. We have learned the significance of monitoring these creatures and the crucial role they play in maintaining ecological balance. The beavers’ impact on the landscape has been eye-opening, and now with four of them beavering away the pace of change on the environment hopefully will undoubtedly accelerate.

This project has not only enriched our lives but has also contributed to the protection and conservation of these marvelous creatures. As the season changes once again, so will the beavers and their surroundings. We eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this amazing journey and are excited to see what lies ahead.

Latest update and video November 23

As the vegetation in the enclosure around the lodge dies back the true extent of the Beavers work on the lodge is becoming visible.

Look Out for the next Chapter in the Project as the Beaver Family begin to extend their influence and start to show evidence of their dam building expertise