Footage of the first baby beaver to be spotted this year at a site where the animals have been reintroduced has been released by wildlife experts.
It is the first young beaver – known as a kit – to be captured on camera this year at the site at Lochan Buic in the Knapdale Forest of Argyll, though experts suspect there may be more.
The Scottish Beaver Trial is the first licensed trial reintroduction of a mammal to the UK and has brought the creature back to Scotland after a 400-year absence.
The scientific monitoring phase of the five-year trial, a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) ended last year.
Roisin Campbell-Palmer, field operations manager of the Scottish Beaver Trial, said: “It is fantastic news that evidence of continued breeding at the trial site is occurring. Though the monitoring period has officially ended, our education ranger is still in place carrying out guided walks, delivering the education programme and keeping an eye on beaver activity.
“This footage shows a recently emerged kit, in good body condition, investigating the top of the lodge where it lives.
“During the spring and summer, beavers are more active while it is still light so there is a greater chance for people to see them in the wild. Our guided walks are still running, where you can learn all about these fascinating animals.
“These are fantastic for connecting children with nature and are enjoyed by visitors to the area who deliver a much-needed boost for the local economy in Argyll.”
A report on the results of the trial was sent to the Scottish Government in June and Scottish ministers are to decide later this year whether beavers will remain in Scotland.
The beaver families participating in the trial were all caught in the Telemark region of Norway and brought to the UK where they completed a statutory quarantine period before being released in Scotland.