WWRC 97-05ee
Use of Beaver to Improve Riparian Areas in Wyoming
Abstract
Beaver (Castor canadensis), through their dam
building activities, store water, trap sediment,
subirrigate vegetation, and subsequently improve
habitat for fish, wildlife, and livestock. Many
landowners realize the benefits that beaver can bring
to a riparian area and are interested in using them to
improve riparian habitat. Beginning in 1993 we
introduced beaver to eight areas throughout
Wyoming. Our goal was to use beaver to improve
riparian habitat. We trapped and relocated over 110
beaver during two and one-half years. Predation and
emigration accounted for the loss of 36% and 48% of
telemetered beaver throughout the three year study,
respectively. Our results show that 1) trapping and
moving beaver needs to be done within a short period
of time, generally 5 days, 2) beaver need to be
introduced in large numbers (i.e. > 5 animals for each
introduction site) to compensate for high predation
and emigration losses, 3) follow-up introductions
need to be done once beaver become established, 4)
spring and fall releases tend to be equally successful
although animals released in the fall remain nearer to
the release sites when starting to build dams, 5)
beaver introductions can be successful in a wide
variety of habitats including some that are not
considered primary beaver habitat (i.e. scrub oak
habitat in the Black Hills), and 6) a large amount of
interest was generated from the project especially
from private landowners.
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