Beavers are cute creatures with the capacity to modify the ecosystem to meet their ecological needs. However, the relationship between humans and beavers is somewhat complicated. Why? They require relatively deep water for their daily activities, and they will build dams if water levels are low. Conflict between humans and beavers arises when the construction of a dam causes damage to trees and flooding of people’s property. However, we don’t even realize how beavers are needed to save the environment. 

Often considered a keystone species, they provide valuable habitat for many other species that thrive in wetlands. Insects, invertebrates, fish, mammals, and birds become more diverse as a result of their presence, creating suitable living conditions for them. Open wetlands are becoming increasingly sensitive to drought and warming temperatures, which means they often decrease in size and depth or simply disappear during droughts. Beaver activity in these areas is critical because it expands the area of open wetlands in river and stream systems. Floods caused by beaver dams provide not only habitat but also water resources. Beaver ponds also remove sediment and pollutants such as total suspended solids, total nitrogen, phosphates, carbon, and silicates, improving the quality of stream water. If the sediment remains in place long enough, it will eventually turn the pond into a wet meadow known as a beaver meadow. Water from beaver ponds is distributed across the landscape in small channels dug by them. This water slowly soaks into the soil, keeping it moist and the plants green. As a result, when fires break out, beaver wetlands are too wet to burn. The fire often follows the path of least resistance and burns through the dry vegetation.

Across North America, beavers once numbered in the tens of millions, but over-hunting for their furs reduced their numbers to just 100,000 in 1900. When scientists realized the importance of this species to stream and riparian ecosystems’ health and the great damage these habitats had suffered in their absence, beaver reintroduction and protection became a priority. However, rural residents did not have a very good relationship with beavers. They began to complain about the beavers’ habit of cutting down trees and building dams that sometimes flooded their yards. In Idaho, wildlife managers were at a loss because they realized the value of these animals. Instead of exterminating them, The Fish and Game Department decided to relocate the beavers – 76 of them. The process of relocating beavers by land at the time was prolonged, expensive, and resulted in high mortality rates, according to Elmo W. Heter, an employee of Idaho Fish and Game. Nevertheless, it was necessary. Since the 1930s, beavers have been relocated away from areas inhabited by humans. To relocate the beavers, trappers would catch them, load them into a truck, and deliver them to a conservation officer. Then, packed in boxes, they would set off on their journey. The beavers did not tolerate the heat of the sun and had to be constantly cooled and watered. Often, the journey stressed them out, which made them refuse to eat. This is where the idea for another means of transportation came from. What kind? Tying boxes of beavers to parachutes left over from World War II and then throwing them out of a small plane. Absurd, right? But it really did happen. On August 14, 1948, the translocation of the beavers began, and within a few days, 76 beavers were parachuted into the wild meadows. Surprisingly, the operation went almost smoothly. Unfortunately, one of the beavers got out of the box during the drop, and he did not survive, being the only casualty of the project. Department spokesman Roger Philips was asked if the project would ever be repeated; he said it might, but probably not. Helicopters are now the preferred aircraft, and parachuting would not be required for this type of work. There are also new ways to prevent flooding by beaver dams, so the animals would not have to be moved as often. Pipe devices called “beaver bafflers” allow water to flow through, reducing the risk of flooding. 

We are experiencing more frequent wildfires and pollution as a result of climate change. Beavers are valuable animals and ecosystem engineers because they create and maintain wetlands, improve water quality, and provide habitat for fish, waterfowl, plants, and other species. Who would have thought that these little creatures could be of such great assistance and work for the betterment of our environment? It’s time to adopt a more positive viewpoint of them rather than viewing them as bothersome rodents. They are little hard workers, and while they are doing it for their own ecological needs, we, as humans and nature, are grateful for their positive contribution to the environment.

Aleksandra Szumielewicz

Sources:

Wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com – Beaver: Nature’s ecosystem engineers

Emilyfairfaxscience.com – Beavers And Wildfire

Wikipedia.org – Environmental impacts of beavers

Nationalgeographic.com – Why beavers were parachuted into the Idaho wilderness