Can the Beaver State Do Right by…Beavers?

Beavers are having a moment. Which is hilarious for a species that’s been around for millions of years. But it’s true that these R.O.U.S.s (Rodents of Unusual Size, for my fellow Princess Bride fans) are finally getting some long-deserved love and recognition for their important role in shaping the landscape and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

With their industrious dam building, beavers are true ecosystem engineers. Beaver dams create wetlands and wet meadows that remove and store large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. These beaver-created wetlands improve the resilience of fish and wildlife to variations in climate conditions and water supply by keeping water on the landscape longer and slowing water flows. These same characteristics also help decrease flood damage and replenish the water table.

Beaver activities have many other habitat benefits for Oregon’s native fish and wildlife. Beaver dams improve nesting and rearing areas for waterfowl. Increased vegetation in and around beaver-created wetland habitat provides forage and cover for fish, birds, and other wildlife. And beaver ponds store leaf litter and woody debris, which supports healthy insect populations, an important food source for fish, amphibians, waterfowl, bats, and songbirds.

But that’s not all! Beavers can also help us respond to the reality of increasing frequency and severity of wildfire. Wetlands, wet meadows, and ponds created and maintained by beavers serve as natural fire breaks and provide refuge for wildlife during fires. After a fire, vegetation in this habitat helps prevent erosion and protect water quality.

We’ve spent an astonishing amount of money trying to recreate what beavers do naturally. Now, the conversation is shifting to how we can protect and restore beavers (i.e., quit killing them and get out of their way) so they can do their thing.

We hope you’ll join us!

Story by Quinn Read, Conservation Director. Photo by Larry Lamsa. For more information, visit https://birdallianceoregon.org