Beaver © Nick Upton / Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Welsh Beaver Project
We're bringing beavers back to Wales!
Beavers in Wales
The Welsh Beaver Project has been investigating the feasibility of bringing wild beavers back to Wales since 2005. This work is being led by North Wales Wildlife Trust on behalf of all five Wildlife Trusts in Wales.
Beaver release at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve by Iolo Williams © Emyr Evans Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Beaver family © Jeremy Usher Smith
Beaver in vegetation by David Parkyn @cornwall wildlife trust
Beaver release at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve by Iolo Williams © Emyr Evans Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Beaver © Nick Upton/Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Webbed beaver paw
Beaver lodge © D J Halley
European beaver scratching © Chris Robbins
European beaver swimming © Chris Robbins
The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a large, semi-aquatic rodent with dark brown or black fur, a paddle-shaped tail and characteristic orange front teeth. They live in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes or ponds and they feed on a wide range of vegetation, including bark from willow and birch trees. Beavers were once widespread across the Wales, but due to over hunting by humans for their fur, meat and scent glands they became extinct after the Middle Ages in Wales and by the end of the 16th century they were extinct from the rest of Britain.
How beavers will help nature recover in Wales
Beavers are very special animals because they play a vital role in restoring and managing river and wetland ecosystems. This creates diverse habitats for other species to thrive, benefiting a wide range of other animals and plants. Beavers are often referred to as a ‘keystone species’ or ‘nature’s engineers’ because of the positive impact they can have on the environment.
How we’re going to make it happen
The Welsh Beaver Project is working to re-establish wild beavers in Wales.
Feasibility studies have been undertaken and proposals are being developed. Beavers are now starting to return to Wales with a small number of beavers living in the Dyfi catchment. We have submitted a licence application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for the release of beavers to the Dyfi catchment as a population reinforcement to improve the genetic health of the small population. We have also established a Beaver Management Network as part of our proposals; this includes setting up a network of beaver volunteers who will be on-hand to deal with any problems caused by beavers so that we can all enjoy the benefits that beavers bring. In some cases, beaver activity can conflict with human activities or infrastructure, but there are many well-established solutions to mitigate against many of the issues.
In due course, it is likely that there will be a public consultation led by NRW for people to have their say and hopefully beavers will be welcomed in the Welsh landscape once again. We will keep you updated!
Want to know more?
Feasibility Report
Investigating the feasibility of reintroducing beavers to Wales – examination of the likely effects of a managed re-establishment of beavers in Wales, consultation with key stakeholders, and assessment and selection of initial candidate areas.
Read the summary Read the full report
Economic impacts of the beaver
A study, commissioned by Wild Britain and undertaken by the University of Oxford’s WildCRU team, on the economic impacts of beavers in the wild.
Read the study
The Wildlife Trusts’ vision for the return of beavers to England and Wales
The Wildlife Trusts’ call to the UK Government and Welsh Government to see beavers returned to the wild rather than enclosures.
North Wales Wildlife Trust: Beaver Project Stakeholder Engagement
Consultation reports following local consultations in the Dyfi catchment in 2022
For more information or to report a beaver sighting or field signs:
Contact beaver.afanc@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01248 351541.
Sign up for our Welsh Beaver Project newsletter here
Information for land managers: visit beavermanagement.org
Allard Martinius
Cors Dyfi Beaver Family
In spring 2021 a beaver family (Barti the father, Bedw the mother and Bytri the son) were translocated from Scotland to Wales, and into their new home at Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s Cors Dyfi nature reserve.
The family settled in well and they have an important role to play in helping to manage the habitat on the reserve - positive changes have been observed in the beaver enclosure
Beavers recognised as native species and awarded full legal protection in Wales
The Wildlife Trusts in Wales highly commend the Welsh Government’s decision to officially recognise European beavers (Castor fiber) as a…
Welsh Government gives thumbs up to beavers in Wales
Welsh Government supports the managed re-introduction of European beaver in Wales.
Free the beaver! A new vision for beavers in England and Wales
The Wildlife Trusts say: end enclosures and take action for beavers to be wild
The Nature Networks Fund (round two) is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.