mike symes
River Otter Beaver Trial
Government landmark decision means Devon's beavers can stay!
In August 2020 the Government announced that Devon's beavers can stay. This was a landmark decision and one of the most important moments in England's conservation history. It was the first legally sanctioned reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England. It means that the beaver population, which lives on the River Otter and is estimated to consist of up to 15 family groups, now has a secure future. You can read the announcement here,
Our work to keep beavers in the wild will continue and we will monitor their activities to ensure that they continue to live happily alongside the local community. If you would like to help the beavers in the wild and support our work please support us.
About the project
A population of beavers, of unknown origin, has been present on the River Otter since around 2008. However, when video evidence emerged proving that the beavers had given birth to kits (young) in 2014, the UK Government initially planned to have them removed from the river.
DWT opposed their removal and after consulting with the local community, landowners and public bodies, presented an alternative plan: to turn the situation into a five-year trial to monitor the beavers’ effects on the landscape.
The River Otter Beaver Trial Science and Evidence Report
Click below to read the River Otter Beaver Trial Science and Evidence Report. This major new report from the five year trial finds that beavers bring benefits to people and wildlife...
The River Otter Beavers give you the opportunity to see wild living beavers in the English landscape for the first time in 400 years - what a privilege!Devon Wildlife Trust
An alternative plan
Our proposal was approved by Natural England in February 2015 on condition that the beavers were shown to be healthy Eurasian beavers and free of non-native diseases.
Following these test results, the beavers were re-released on the River Otter in March. In June 2015, video evidence showed three further kits had been born.
In spring 2017 we released a report that summarises the results of the research being undertaken in Devon to investigate the effects of beavers on the water environment.
Read our annual River Otter Beaver Trial update
Learn about the impacts of nature's fascinating water engineers
Mike Symes
Hoping to see beavers?
Beavers are very charismatic animals and not that difficult to see if you spend enough time by the river in the right areas. They are nocturnal for much of the year, but during the light summer evenings they can be seen during daylight hours. They are resident in the lower reaches of the River Otter in areas well covered by the public footpath network, and if you spend enough time on these paths during the summer evenings between May and September you stand a good chance of seeing them, as well as otters, kingfishers, dippers, etc.
One of the best areas is currently around Otterton village where the footpaths go north, south and west from the main river bridge, but this can change.
You should aim to be out from the early evening, and be prepared to stay out until it’s almost dark (so worth having a small torch with you). Wear warm, dark and quiet clothing, and have a pair of binoculars with you if possible.
It’s worth spending a bit of money in the local business (Otterton Mill and the Kings Arms are good places to eat and drink in the village) and always worth mentioning that you are in the area to see the beavers - local businesses should benefit from having beavers in their area.
Please make sure you respect the landowners and other users of the river, and follow the Countryside code.
To stand a better chance, if possible, don’t bring a dog with you. Beavers have a very acute sense of smell and although they can be quite tolerant of dogs, they can perceive them as a threat, especially if they have vulnerable kits (May – July) – certainly make sure your dog stays out of the river in these areas at this time of year.
Tell us about sightings. Many of the beavers are wearing ear tags, so if you are lucky enough to spot a beaver, look carefully to see if it is wearing ear tags – it will help us understand where the different beavers are living. Let us know the date, time, exact location, and the details of ear tag colours and which ears they are in.
River Otter – Beaver Management Strategy
The River Otter Beaver Trial (ROBT) five-year term concludes in March 2020. Natural England / Defra are responsible for deciding the future of the beavers currently living wild on the river.
The ROBT Steering Group, made up of a diverse range of stakeholders, recognise the critical need to prepare for a potential scenario that Defra allows the beavers to remain in the River Otter catchment after 2020.
The development of a Management Strategy Framework now will help inform decisions regarding the long-term management of beavers, the wetland habitats they establish, and their general activities in the River Otter in the future.
The Management Strategy was produced with expert input from a wide range of national stakeholders and international advisors.
Beaver Management Strategy and Appendices:
Mike Symes
About the River Otter Beaver Trial
The River Otter Beaver Trial is led by Devon Wildlife Trust working in partnership with The University of Exeter, the Derek Gow Consultancy, and Clinton Devon Estates. Expert independent advice is also provided by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Professor John Gurnell, and Gerhard Schwab, an international beaver expert based in Bavaria.
The River Otter Beaver Trial is supported by The Peter De Haan Charitable Trust, The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, Garfield Weston Foundation, Tale Valley Trust and donations from local residents, DWT members and the general public.
Two new beavers released into River Otter
On Monday 23 May 2016 we released two new adult beavers into the river's catchment in order to widen the genetic make-up of the resident population.
You can watch the story of this historic event unfold and hear about why the new beavers are so important to this groundbreaking project...
Footage by Sylvia Meller
Beaver and kits footage!
Sylvia Meller captured some wonderful footage of the mother beaver and her 3 kits
Mike Symes
Mike Symes
Mike Symes
Photo, Nick Upton
Photo David R White
Photo, Chris Townend
Help us help beavers thrive
Annual reports
Become a member and support our work
The vital work we do for nature depends on the support of people who care about the future of Devon’s wildlife and wild places.