A beaver at the National Trust’s Wallington Estate in Northumberland has been caught in a humane trap twice due to his apparent fondness for parsnips. Rangers monitoring the beaver family’s health lured the animals into the traps using fruit and vegetables, but the male parent kept returning for more snacks.
Monitoring and Capture
For two months, the Wallington team used four treadle-activated traps baited with carrots, apples, and especially parsnips, which the beavers clearly preferred. The operation aimed to health-check the nine beavers—including several kits born at Wallington—and fit them with microchips for individual identification.
Three young beavers were successfully trapped and confirmed healthy. The beaver family originally came from Tayside, Scotland, in 2023, and their population has grown since then. The mother has given birth twice: once to a single kit in 2024 and again to a litter of four last year.
The Repeat Offender
One male, nicknamed Steve McQueen for his escape attempts to find a mate, was previously rehomed. However, the father beaver demonstrated a clear willingness to re-enter the trap repeatedly, seemingly prioritizing parsnips over caution.
“He seems to like going into the trap and getting all the parsnips,” said lead ranger Helen McDonald.
Future Plans
The rangers plan to continue trapping in September, hoping to catch the remaining beavers and any new kits born this summer. The microchipping project will allow for more precise monitoring of the population’s growth and health over time.
The beaver’s repeated return highlights how animals can be motivated by simple rewards, even when it means entering an unfamiliar enclosure. This behavior is useful for conservation efforts, but also raises questions about how predictable animals can be when food is involved.
