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FOUR hundred years after beavers in England were hunted to extinction, a European beaver has happily set up home on a stretch of the River Thames outside Oxford.

The beaver has offered the clearest proof that the species can survive in the Oxfordshire countryside, by living in the wild throughout the winter.

But it has emerged that the creature was not, in fact, released as part of a controlled wildlife experiment. The beaver is thought to have escaped before Christmas and has managed to evade capture for more than three months.

The Oxford Times this week discovered the location of its river home and contacted the Environment Agency.

The EA said a Gloucestershire-based wildlife group, that breeds beavers in captivity, has been called in to trap the beaver. The EA has asked us not to reveal the location of the beaver's lodge to avoid it being disturbed or harmed.

An experiment to release beavers in Scotland is expected to be shortly resumed. But the large rodent living near Oxford has gone some way to showing that beavers can live near populated areas largely unnoticed.

There have only been a handful of sightings, with one local resident claiming to have seen it running across her garden.

Graham Scholey, of the Environment Agency, said: "Conservation staff can confirm the presence of a beaver living wild on the Thames catchment. Evidence included a number of young willows which had been felled on the river bank in the characteristic fashion of a beaver. They do this to feed on the young shoots and bark at the top of the trees.

"This beaver has escaped from captivity although the source is currently unknown. Measures are at hand to re-capture the beaver, and its location is not being disclosed to ensure that this operation can take place with minimal interference and stress to the animal."

Whereas the American beaver can be destructive, environmentalists say the European species would be a force for good in the countryside, even helping to keep rivers clear of debris.

And Mr Scholey moved to dispel fears that the beaver's famed dam-building abilities could increase the risk of flooding.

He said: "The European beavers are capable of building dams. But it is clear that the beaver has been living largely unnoticed. It has not built any dam structures, which are more typical of the Canadian species."

It is currently illegal to intentionally release a beaver into the wild.

Mr Scholey added: "It is on its own. It cannot breed and it's not fair to leave it out there anyway.

"The reinstatement of beavers is something I would very much want to see. But it has to be part of a proper planned and well monitored exercise."

European beavers, which can grow to more than three feet in length, were once widespread across Britain and lived side by side with the rest of our native wildlife until they were hunted to extinction in the 16th century. Beavers do not eat fish, and are entirely vegetarian.

But the Environment Agency said it was not, in fact, the first beaver to have lived in Oxfordshire since the 16th century. A beaver escaped from a fenced-off beaver settlement, near Cirencester, last summer and lived in the Cherwell before being recaptured.

Most European countries that lost beavers due to over-hunting have successfully re-introduced them in the last few decades.

After a trial in Scotland, the potential for trial re-introductions in England and Wales will be considered.

Where they live in the wild in parts of Europe, the activities of the European beaver have helped create a range of habitats which encourage wetland species to thrive. Willow trees that are cut near the base will re-sprout and new growth can then be harvested by the beaver for food.

5:00pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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