A number of dead beavers have washed up on the Kent coastline this year – but why is it happening?

The animals were first re-introduced to the county in 2003 at Ham Fen Nature Reserve in Deal and they have now spread across the River Stour.

There are now three Eurasian beaver families residing in the area.

However, over the past few months, a number of the animals have been spotted on the seafront in Thanet.

Wildlife expert Nik Mitchell said: "The beaver introduction is going well and it's an incredible thing to happen in our lifetime but every now and again sadly some get into trouble.

"A few times this year they have sadly been found dead on our coastline."

Kent Wildlife Trust developed a plan to create a contained colony of beavers at Ham Fen Nature Reserve in Deal to help restore wetlands.

The animals were last seen on British shores more than 400 years before the work began on the project.

They were re-introduced in 2003 and are now part of the wild biodiversity in east Kent.

But why are the animals washing up on the coastline?

Mr Mitchell, who is part of Wildlife Conservation in Thanet, explained: "What's happening is young sub-adult beavers are heading out to find their own territory, they get lost in the River Stour and accidentally find themselves in the sea.

"If not found in time, the beavers die.

"I recently picked up a dead one for the Environment Agency to collect and send off to the Zoological Society of London for an autopsy.

"Although it's very sad that some beavers have washed up on our coastline dead, it is pretty normal.

"Wildlife has it hard and it really is survival of the fittest out there."

In February, a rescue operation was sparked after a poorly beaver washed up on a Kent beach.

Mr Mitchell was called after a friend spotted the animal from a cliff at Pegwell Bay in Ramsgate.

Despite the team's best efforts, the beaver's condition did not improve, and it was put to sleep by a vet.

A number of images have been shared on social media of the dead animals washing up along the Thanet coastline.

Mr Mitchell added: "This reintroduction project is being monitored and a lot of effort is going into making it happen as smoothly as possible.

"This won't be the last time dead beavers wash up on our coastline.

"Handling a beaver dead or alive requires licensing and I strongly recommend contacting the authorities or us if someone spots one in trouble."

The European beaver became a protected species in England from October 1.

It means you require a licence to possess, disturb and manage beavers and their lodges, burrows and dams.

Steve Weeks, from the Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "We are proud of what we have achieved in re-introducing beavers at Ham Fen.

"The beavers that Kent Wildlife Trust introduced 20 years ago have been hugely successful and these animals have transformed this important wetland site.

"However other wild beaver populations were already in existence in Kent outside of Ham Fen, for example, we know of wild populations on the River Stour and it is not possible to say if the beavers found on the beach originate from our reserve.

"Beavers are highly territorial and this is the time of year when animals are moving around to find new home ranges.

"When they end up on the coast they may find the combination of trying to find their traditional food supplies and the salt water too much.

"This is not an indication of the overall ability of beavers to survive in Kent, they have been here for a long time and we hope will continue to transform our landscapes, improve water quality and help support our flood defences long into the future."