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Wild beaver spotted in Devon: Scientist films 'first sighting of creature in Britain for 500 years'

The rare sight was captured on an infrared camera by environmental scientist Tom Buckley, as the beaver - native to North America - sank his teeth into a large trunk

Britain’s first wild beaver for 500 years has been spotted in remarkable night-vision footage - gnawing on a tree in Devon.

The rare sight was captured on an infrared camera as the beaver - native to North America - sank his teeth into a large trunk.

Filmed by a retired scientist, it is thought to be the only sighting of a wild beaver on these shores since they were hunted to extinction in the 16th century.

Conservationists have introduced several small groups back into captivity in the UK - but this is said to be the first example of one found living in the wild.

Environmental scientist Tom Buckley set up his specialist equipment after a string of sightings around Ottery St Mary, near Exeter, Devon, in recent months.

He used a 'trail-camera’, which automatically takes photos when it picks up signs of movement, and positioned it at several points around a small island owned by local farmer David Lawrence.

Mr Buckley had already seen evidence of bites and nibble marks on trees.

When he checked his camera some time later he was delighted to have caught the wild beaver on film - chewing trademarks wedges out of the base of a tree to topple it.

Mr Buckley said: 'I first noticed a tree that had been damaged because I walk around that area every day - then I saw a few trees had been nibbled.

'For me it posed the question: could it have been a beaver, or was it some kids messing about?

'When I looked more closely it was clear the damage to the trees had been done by a beaver.

'What happens on David Lawrence's land near Ottery St Mary is that the river divides to leave a bit of an island in the middle and that's the main area where we are seeing them.

'It's where most of the trees have been laid down, not necessarily forming a dam, but it may be that this is the early stages.'

The beaver caught on Mr Buckley's special camera is thought to be the same one spotted last August by dog walker Lorna Douglas, 35.

She was able to observe and film it on her phone as it relaxed in the water 13 miles upstream on the same river.


Mr Buckley says the evidence that it is a beaver is now irrefutable.

He added: 'The only time I've seen the beaver in the flesh was around Christmas time when I saw its nose while it was in the water.

'Most of the sightings if not all have been when it comes out of the water and onto the land.’

'It may be one that's just passing through from somewhere else - it might be an escapee, but nobody seems to be saying they've lost a beaver.'

Mr Lawrence added: 'We first saw signs last summer when a couple of trees came down - we thought it someone messing about with axes or something.

'It's early days yet but, as long as lots of people don't go there and frighten the beaver away, he should be happy enough.

'What's going to be really interesting is how it gets on with the other animals, like the otters which we see on the river.'


Beavers normally live in family groups and can survive up to 24 years in the wild and 35 years in captivity.

They are herbivorous rodents who build corridors in their dams to escape predators such as wolves and bears in the wild.

The animals are nocturnal creatures who can grow to more than 3ft, weigh up to 70lbs, and feed on a diet of reeds, leaves and bark.