Beaver gnaws through tree at club

A beaver has been recaptured after escaping from a wildlife park in Hertfordshire and gnawing its way through a tree at a local golf club.

The beaver, called Mrs B, went missing from Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, after digging through a pond four weeks ago.

She turned up at The Hertfordshire Golf Club down the road.

The beaver was eventually caught in a trap that had been set for her and taken back to the wildlife park.

Steve Bryan, a golf professional who works on the club's sales team, said the tree "now looks like a pencil has been put into the ground because the tree has been gnawed to a point".

'Natural behaviour'

He added: "We only realised the beaver was at the club when we saw the tree had been gnawed."

The club was not planning to fell the tree after the incident but expected it to fall down as soon as there was a heavy wind, he added.

Lynn Whitnall, animal park director at Paradise Wildlife Park, said Mrs B was safe and well.

She added: "This is what beavers naturally do."

Beavers are a protected species and Mrs B, whose age is not known, was originally brought to the wildlife park after being rescued from Scotland by police, Ms Whitnall said.