Castor fiber
Castor fiber
After a 400-year absence, beavers are once again living in Cumbria through a carefully managed, enclosed trial.
Once hunted to the brink of extinction in the UK for their fur, these remarkable animals are now helping to restore our rivers and wetlands.
Eurasian beavers usually weigh 16–30kg. Their bodies are 60–90cm long and their tail can be between 20 and 35cm long.
Unusually for mammals, female beavers are the same size or slightly larger than males of the same age.
Beavers are most active at dawn and dusk throughout the year and do not hibernate
Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents, second in size only to capybaras. They’re easily recognised by their:
Despite their reputation, beavers are strictly vegetarian, feeding on tree bark, aquatic plants, and grasses.
Beavers live in monogamous pairs and raise their young—called kits—together. As the kits grow, they help their parents maintain the dam and care for younger siblings.
Beavers are famous for their ability to build dams and lodges using:
Beavers feel safest when surrounded by water, so they often build dams to create deeper ponds. These ponds not only protect their lodges from predators but also provide water access to food sources.
These structures slow water flow, creating wetlands that benefit a wide range of wildlife. Beavers are considered a keystone species—their presence improves water quality, boosts biodiversity, and even helps reduce flood risk for people downstream.
We're part of the Cumbria Beaver Group that is running the enclosed trial of beavers in Cumbria. You can find out more about the project and beavers on lead partner's Cumbria Wildlife Trust's website.
Find out more about the group, the trial and beavers on lead partner, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's website
Eden Rivers Trust supports beaver reintroduction in Cumbria for river restoration, biodiversity improvement, and natural flood management. Find out more in our position statement.
