First wild beavers 'illegally released' confirmed

An unexpected population of wild beavers has been found.

Nature recovery programme Cumbria Connect said it could confirm rumours of the animals being spotted in and around the River Lowther in Eden - the first wild population of the semi-aquatic rodent in the county.

Natural England said they were a protected wild population under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, meaning it was illegal to capture, harm, or disturb them.

Cumbria Connect said it was not involved in the release of the animals and suspected their release was illegal - which it did not "support".

Programme manager Martin Varley said: "We now need to focus on how we manage this situation responsibly and collaboratively.

"We do not support illegal wildlife releases and believes species recovery must take place through responsible, licensed and transparent processes."

The programme said it had already been aware of the population, but did not publicise its presence to reduce the risk of the beavers being disturbed by the public.

However, tracks left behind by the animals and an increased number of sightings had made it "appropriate" to confirm their existence.

Beavers are native to Britain but were wiped out in the 16th Century, mainly due to hunting, according to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

They first returned to the UK in the early 2000s, but were only allowed to be kept in enclosed spaces in England until last year - when beavers were first released into the wild again.

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