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
Idaho's chance to end beaver trapping on federal lands
Call to all Flat-tailers, supporters and volunteers
You have the rare opportunity to end beaver trapping on federal lands. This means that you have the unprecedented opportunity, to bring the unusual and amazing capacity of beaver to restore habitat, reduce peak flood damage, boost native fisheries and throttle back greenhouse gas emissions to bear on your public lands.
As many of you know, Watershed Guardians has been monitoring beaver populations in the Portneuf Watershed and requested that Idaho Fish and Game end trapping in specific streams. These requests have fallen on deaf ears leading to the extirpation of beaver in the West Fork, East Fork, Dempsey, and Jackson Creeks and this year's data foretell a bleak future for your local beavers.
As if their inactions weren't hastening the demise of the beaver, IF&G recently expanded the trapping season by one month. The reason? To make it more convenient for trappers to remove nuisance beavers, including those on Federal lands. Attempts to mimic beaver dams have only proved successful in cases where beaver were introduced. They are not a replacement and in some instances, such Man-Made Dams (MMDs) may cause a decrease in beaver activity.
We have met with Water Resources, attended and commented on every trap season, attended and asked for reductions at IF&G commission meetings, and asked state legislators to consider our plea all with insignificant results. This may be your last, best opportunity to achieve the goal of "preserving, maintaining and protecting" not just the Portneuf Watershed "one beaver at a time" , but all of Idaho's and America's watersheds on USFS/BLM lands.
Learn More
We know that beaver can store an incredible amount of surface water and ground water behind their dams. But did you know how quickly this can be accomplished? In two years, the now extant colony on the East Fork made over 21 dams each with the surface water capacity of about 1 Acre-ft. of water. Ther groundwater capcity my be 3-10 times that volume.
About Beaver
This is one of those rare chnaces you have to make a real difference in how your watersheds are managed.
When you sign the petition, be sure to state why you think beaver are important to you
Beavers for our future
Time is running out. Let's get them protected before they are gone.
What's happening in our basin?
This data is the result of 1,000s of volunteer hours, miles of on-the-ground sampling and $1,000s donated by people like you. We would not know how our beaver are doing other wise. Please consider donating to help our volunteers carry on their work and our advocacy for beaver.
BeaverCount XI
BeaverCount update
Thank you to all of the hearty winter wildlands wanderers who helpted us scout and in some cases locate active beaver colonies in YOUR watershed. We haveadded the BeaverCount XI summary page with details, photos and stories. Check it out here!
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!