Beaver who escaped to find mate welcomes first kit

Steve the beaver, infamous for escaping his enclosure in his quest to find love, has welcomed his first kit with mate Doris.

After repeatedly breaking out from Wallington, in Northumberland, the male beaver was named after The Great Escape star Steve McQueen and last year he finally achieved his ambition after being rehomed to an enclosure on a farm in Wales.

The team at Cefn Garthenor have confirmed Steve and Doris have welcomed their first kit, which they believe was born around late May, with the team saying they were "so excited" by the news.

Alistair Hughes, from Cefn Garthenor farm, said: "Doris seems to be keeping Steve way too busy for him to have time or energy for an escape."

Steve the beaver was released into a 24-hectare (59-acre) enclosure at Wallington in July 2023 as part of a family of four Eurasian beavers.

Storms during their first year saw the enclosure fencing damaged, which is how Steve made his bids for freedom.

Rangers said it became clear his repeated escape attempts might have been driven by his instinct to find a mate and after being recaptured for a third time in December 2024, they decided it was time to find him a suitable new home.

After being relocated to Wales, he was matched with Doris.

Hughes said: "It was a blind date, so we're glad it all worked out."

While the sex of the kit is not yet known, Hughes said the team was looking at Welsh gender-neutral names to poll people on.

The National Trust Wallington estate has also confirmed the arrival of at least two new beavers in 2026, marking the third consecutive year of successful breeding.

The new kits are Steve's siblings.

Ranger Emily Johnson said: "A third successful breeding season at Wallington is a great sign that the beavers are healthy and happy."

Johnson added each kit would stay with its mother for about two years before moving on to try and find their own territory.

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