Northumberland 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.