Image above: National Trust Images – James Beck 2026
See below the latest update from Gen Crisford, Beaver Project officer for the National Trust:
Wetland wonders
In December we updated that we had discovered a new wetland near Little Sea, created by one of the released beaver pairs (the same female which took a trip to Swanage before settling back down in Studland!). We have been closely monitoring this area as it evolves. The dam the beavers have built is now around 35 metres long. This has slowed the flow of a small stream, creating a deep and extensive pond. Their coppicing of trees has opened up the canopy, allowing light to flood in. The trail cameras have already picked up an otter regularly fishing in the pond, as well as a barn owl hunting there, and volunteers have spotted birds like redpoll and water rail, and frog spawn. We look forward to seeing this area green up more in the spring and seeing what other wildlife appears, from dragonflies, diving beetles and butterflies to frogs and newts – and of course, all the animals that feed off them.
Scent mounds
Regular beaver visits to the same spot caught on trail camera, along with a musky smell, revealed the discovery of scent mounds at the new large beaver dam. Scent mounds are small piles of mud and vegetation, marked with castoreum (anal scent gland secretions). Scent mounds are used to mark a beaver territory, acting as a warning of the boundary between beaver territories. This shows us that the beavers are settling in this area and are keen to defend it from other migrating beavers.
Hoping for kits this year
It looks like we could also be welcoming baby beavers (kits) to this beaver pair this summer. It’s incredibly rare to see beavers mating, but our trail camera captured this special moment in late January. It is a clear sign they’ve now settled into their new home. This is their first breeding season here, and if all goes well, the kits will be born in May/June. Beavers can have up to four kits in a litter. So far, the most we have seen at Studland is two kits at a time.
Culvert screens working well
Culvert screens installed at Ferry Road in November have been closely monitored throughout the winter. We have witnessed beavers passing through the culvert screens which is good news, as we wanted to confirm that they will not be forced to cross the road because of this intervention. The screens prevent beavers from creating dams under the road and allow for natural debris accumulation to be more easily cleared at the upstream end of the culvert. This management activity has meant that the road did not flood this year, where in previous years the culverts have easily become blocked. Beaver damming upstream of the road has undoubtedly helped keep the road dry as well, slowing the rate at which water passes through the culvert – for those of you who remember that section of road flooding every year, this is an everyday example of how beavers can help reduce local flood risk.
The Purbeck Beaver Project – year in
We are now one year into the Purbeck Beaver Project, since the licenced releases took place at Little Sea. The project steering group (made up of representatives from local organisations, landowners and the community) recently reviewed the events of the past year. Consideration was given to beaver heath and numbers; impacts on the environment and community; and management activities that have taken place. The group agreed that the project may proceed and look ahead towards planning releases within the Phase 2 area, which covers the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve. We are currently looking into planning details of release sites, with an aim to release the next pairs of beavers in autumn/winter 2026. More information will be shared in advance, once the details are decided. If you are interested in joining our volunteer beaver monitoring team, we are looking to train up individuals in advance of the autumn, so please get in touch.
Are you interested in reading any of the previous updates? All updates are uploaded to our project webpage and previous updates can also be seen here: Beavers at Little Sea, Studland | National Trust
