Beavers Engineered Special Exmoor Dam: A First in 400 Years

Nine months after being introduced to slow the river's flow, wildlife cameras captured the beavers gnawing nearby trees and collecting vegetation to build a dam across small channels at the Holnicote Estate near Minehead.

They were able to create an instant wetland in a relatively short period of time. Although the dam built by the animals looks modest, National Trust project manager Ben Eardley called the structure "incredibly special" as it is the first to appear in Exmoor for almost half a millennium.

Beaver dams allow deep pools of water that animals can use as shelter from predators and food storage. They also serve as natural defenses against floods.

Kingfishers were recently spotted at the site. As beavers continue to extend their network of dams and pools, the opportunity to welcome other wildlife like amphibians, bats, birds, and insects are highly possible.

Nature's Engineers

Dubbed as nature's engineers, beavers play an important role in the ecosystem. The dams they build create lush environments that nurture fish, frogs, ducks, and other species.

Beavers were hunted for their meat, fur, and scent glands, so they became extinct in the U.K. in the 16th century. They were successfully reintroduced in some sites in Britain during recent years.

With climate change constantly posing dangers to both humans and wildlife, natural interventions are part of the key solutions to avert severe damages.

Nature group Rewilding Britain considers the reintroduction of beavers as key players in restoring and connecting habitats. This would benefit wildlife that has been displaced by the effects of climate change.

Beavers build dams primarily to provide a cozy home for their families. However, the benefits of these dams extend to an even wider environment as wetlands depend heavily on beaver dams. Wetlands also prevent potential floods as they absorb large amounts of water.

Aside from these, beaver dams have another valuable contribution. They also filter sediment and toxins to prevent them from flowing into streams and oceans.

Beavers start their dam-building process by gnawing away at the barks of trees near rivers and streams to allow them to fall on the flowing body of water. As a result, the flow is blocked, and a diversion is created.

They then further strengthen the structure by placing twigs, stones, leaves, branches, grasses, and uprooted plants on top of the base. These structures are usually 5 feet high and over 330 feet long, and their water reservoir is usually 1.2 to 1.8 meters deep.

The Riverlands Program

The release of beavers in the state is part of the National Trust's Riverlands Program. It aims to revive rivers by boosting wildlife and improving water quality. It also seeks to engage communities and tackle the effects of climate change.

The beavers at Holnicote settled into a 2.7-acre enclosure. They have been closely monitored by National Trust and Exeter University staff and volunteers since January.

Aside from this project in Holnicote, the Trust also has a separate five-year trial on the River Otter in Devon. The Government acknowledged this project's success, so developing a national strategy for the reintroduction of beavers.

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