Beavers in England: Extinct Natives, Active Reintroductions

Native beaver populations disappeared from mainland Britain around the 16th century due to overhunting for fur, meat, and castoreum, with habitat loss as a contributing factor. For centuries, beavers were absent from English waterways. However, since the early 2000s, licensed reintroduction projects — such as those in Devon, Kent, and Scotland — have established small, managed populations in enclosed and, more recently, open-release sites. These ecosystem engineers are valued for their ability to restore wetlands, reduce flooding, and boost biodiversity. While not yet widespread in the wild, beavers are gradually returning to parts of England through careful conservation efforts.