Trouble With Drought? Bring in a Beaver

Farmers and ranchers in northern Utah have, for decades, battled against beavers. The gnawing critters fell trees. They dam rivers. They create muddy patches that trap the hooves of cattle and sheep. Meanwhile, the state’s southwestern corner struggles with drought. It can't maintain its overused river system.

Solution? Bus those beavers south.

Nick Bouwes is an ecologist. He works at Utah State University. He had been constructing dams to restore Utah’s river system. He has found only limited success, though. So, working together with the northern offices of Utah’s wildlife agency, he relocated a few of those beavers giving farmers fits.

“I started seeing what beavers could do and how fast they could do it,” Bouwes told The New York Times (NYT). “Our structures were just — we’re just children playing in the sandbox compared to what they’re doing.”

Bouwes’ group now relocates about 60 beavers per year. There are challenges, like making sure the bark-eating animals have enough food. The beavers have to find mates. The must also avoid predators. But the beavers who survive are making a difference.

June is a female beaver. She was relocated to the Raft River Mountains in 2022. She has successfully created a dam, started a family, and helped widen her stream. Her story, as well as those of dozens of others, is helping convince people of their usefulness.

Teresa Griffin, a wildlife manager with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said she’s seeing more interest from colleagues than ever.

“Everybody else is kind of getting on board and becoming beaver believers,” Griffin told the NYT.

Thought Question: If you could invite one animal to help solve a problem in your community or environment, which animal would you choose, and what problem would it help with?

Gif of beaver from Giphy courtesy of PBS.