Get involved with your watershed. Check out our M.A.R.S. program for chance to help!
Watershed Guardians PO Box 634 Pocatello, ID 83204US
help make our watershed watershed resilient
Help us Keep Teaching Future Generations about Beavers
Check in
Please Follow These Check in Procedures
Meet at the Church on the corner of Bannock Highway and South Valley Connector
Check in Saturday a the Church on the corner
You will need to check in /register in person prior to goiong out. Here you will get your "chit".
Please review your zone assignments on the attached Excel form (below). These are PRELIMINARY. You may change them up to Saturday.. Note: Those with the same zone number will be a team. You will need to coordinate with each other for ride sharing etc. Text me at 208-232-0825 for the name of the team-mate that you wish to coordinate with and I will forward their contact info.
Red Zones, check in by 8:30AM. Blue by 8:30 and Green by 10:00AM. EVERYONE must be off the trail by 4PM. Those planning to Count during the week must text: 208-232-0825 their depart time, names of everyone in their party, the zone that they will be Counting, and text "Done" all parties returned safe" upon return to town.
BeaverCount
BeaverCount February 4th, 2023
Yes! It's time again for BeaverCount, when intrepid Voyagèrs emerge from their lodges and respectfully visit their furry, wet famlly guardians and check on them, see how they are doing. Registration is required. You can do that on-line up to 2 days before the count. Otherwise you may check in via text (number bottom of page). New trainees MUST sign in in person. This typically will happen on the day of the 'Count, weather permitting. We wil do a gear check after the training on 1/28. Want to count your back yard/neighborhood? Text us at our number at the bottom of the page. You may also e-mail us! Field-trained Flat-ailers REGISTER ON-LINE here
BeaverCount training on 1/28/23
If you've had training in the last 10 years, you can go right to the registration page. Once you register, you can rent your gear. Meet at theCherry Springs parking lot at 10:00AM for training. After registering, you can rent snowshoes and poles at the ISU Wilderness Rental Center....FREE! (Thank you George and Richard!) and so many others keep Flat-tailers on the snow). You will want to dress accordingingly. You can find out more about BeaverCount on the BeaverCount page. Please join us. It's more important than ever.
WHO NEEDS TRAINING?
- If you have NEVER BEEN to our training and would like to help us Count Activity Clusters, block out 4 hours of the last Saturday in January.
- If it has been more than 10 years (that's 2013 and earlier) you need to attend training. There are lots of options for re-certificaiton, including mentoring a college student.
He's Ba-a-a-k! 1/28/23
We are extremely happy to have Mike Doyle bacck again to hep with training. for the Fifth(?) year!. Mike has been help with Scouting's Klonkdike Derby and trained hundreds on outdoor survival skills.
Bring a friend!
Nobody likes to snowshoe alone
Did you know that you can use a dial face watch as a compass? Snowshoeing can be strenuous and it's possible to get lost, cold or both. Regardless of the situation, it's better to have a partner. We'll cover that and other tips at the training. Team sizes vary from 2 to 10. Just make sure that your team-mates and youreself have been through the training. REGISTER
More than ever
More trapping opportunities than ever - beaver
Last year, Idaho Fish and Game's Dan Garren expanded the trapping season by a month, the impact on all of the beaver populations is unknown. Your counting effort will be directly relayed to the agency staff responsible for ensuring that our, I mean YOUR, watershed remains vibrant. Now , more than ever we need census information that can tell us what effect these decisions have on beaver populatons.
"Beaver Restoration" or just beaver?
In 2022, the district Ranger approved the construction of "Beaver Dam Analogues", with little understanding of their impact on beaver populations. They assumed that the organization would herald the deployment of the "majic bullet "of watershed restoration. We did not. Currently, about 1/3 of the 90 or so dams have been installed on the South of the Mink. We need eyes, pictures, stories and your completed log sheet to give us the first data point on the effect of these structures on actual beaver. Artificial dams have also been constructed on the West Fork. Will beaver majically appear? We need to know.
Thank you JimDandy Brewing!
Thank you Matt, Haily, Zoe and Staff
WE DID IT!
Thnaks to all of the wonderful donations from tim, TTina, Patty and Linda who gave guestsat our first "Beavers And Brews" event a chance to win some great are and a cool bike. We raiseed over $1,100 which will belp propel us into our next year of beaver conseration. These funds will help with our Web fees and also help us rent snowshoes for our upcoming BeaverCount!
Mike's featured on KISU's "The Nature of Idaho"
Peter and Leif interview Mike
Leif and Peter interview Watershed Guardians founder and Excutive Director Mike Settell about the origins of the organization (It was a bet), and the multiple benefits offered by and challenges facing beaver in Idaho.
About the Nature of Idaho
The half-hour program features Peter Pruett, Zoo Idaho Superintendent, and Dr. Leif Tapanila, Director of the Idaho Museum of Natural History, highlighting how the Gem State’s wild places have shaped Idaho’s past, present and future. The show features segments on nature news and a fun fact.
“Idaho has so much to offer in terms of varied landscapes, habitats, geology, and people,” said Peter Pruett. “ ‘The Nature of Idaho’ is about sharing our excitement for all that is wild Idaho - the places and the faces.”
"We hope our listeners will take a little time with us to reconnect with nature, whether we're talking about digging up dinosaurs or listening to crickets in the backyard,” said Dr. Leif Tapanila. “There's always something amazing going on outside."
Those who are unable to catch the airing of The Nature of Idaho can download a podcast of previous episodes at kisu.org/programs/TheNatureOfIdaho. Click here or scroll down to download and listen to the file.
Site Content
Services
Beaver and climate change
Coming events
Plugged culvert? Trying installing a BeaverDeciever (tm). We can help. Fill out a questionnaire here.
Coming events
Beaver and climate change
Coming events
Reverse Rendezvous coming in April
Beaver and climate change
Beaver and climate change
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Are we racing towards drought? Will there be sufficient water for the future? What are the solutions. Check out our newest video that answers some of these questions
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Flat-tailers are what we call our beaver volunteers. Please donate to help them continue their studies in outdoor leadership.
Our 10th Annual BeaverCount rocked!
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Our 10th Annual BeaverCount rocked!
Deep snow? Cold weather? Not a problem for this year's Flat-tailers. Check out the updates here!
Resources
Would you like to help the next generation of Flat-tailers?
Our 10th Annual BeaverCount rocked!
Want a deeper dive on beaver behavior? What about conflicts? Water quality? Learn more by consulting these resources
Volunteer
We have many ways that you can help!
Want to help in other ways? We may need material or services. Perhaps we are looking for some truck hauling or something you can do from home? Click the "Volunteer" button below and find a list of services or other ways you can help. You might be surprised! (Photo: ISU leadership students help others by leading them on snowshoe excursions into the Watershed.
About Us
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
We are a community-based organization focused on helping make the natural world around us a better, happier place. With the help of our tireless volunteers, we organize fundraisers, fund community-building events, and host in-depth training for our volunteers.
Get Involved
How We're Helping
How We're Helping
Are you passionate about watershed conservation? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team! beaver conservation beaver damage control
Thank You
How We're Helping
Thank You
Thank you to all who helped out with BeaverDamJam-Idaho. Special thanks to those who donated items for the Raffle (Sportsmans and CAL Ranch); the silent auction (to many to count) and Countless volunteers who helped. Also, special shout out to Teran Engle who ran the sound for us. You rocked it!