BeaverCount Registration

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

(208) 232-0825

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FAQs:

The basics

Some basic answers to questions

The event, "BeaverCount" really consists of two events over 2 Saturdays: the Training and the Count. The times and locations for each are different as described below.

Where? ANS: Training will either be at the Cherry Springs Nature Area . We are in the process of choosing the best location. Registration for the BeaverCount will be at the Community of Christ Church at the intersection of Bannock Highway and South Valley Connector.

When: ANS: Training will be Jan 25th : 10AM to 2PM. the County will be vary depending upon your team's selected zone. Red zones will register no later than 9 AM.

What Should I bring? ANS: , 2L of water, snacks, warm clothes, mittens, winter cap, sunglasses, binoculars and insulated footwear. Footwear includes weatherproof boots and wool or other non-cotton socks.

How can I help at another time. Say you're into helping, but not in the winter. You can help in June when we count the our summer zones on the Portneuf.

Why are we censusing beaver? To better understand the impact of beaver activity on the long-term health of your watershed.

Why are we censusing or "counting" beaver in the winter? ANS: Because beaver remain active throughout the winter and folks need something to do in the winter, outside.

Do we pick our own day/time to do the BeaverCount ?

ANS. If you are in a red zone, you must check in by 9:00 AM. Just pick your date and time and respond by email to mike@watershedguardians.org We will want you to participate on the days that we designate for both the training and the Count.

Where Are you assigning where we do our count?

ANS. No. Your team picks your zones. Zones will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis, with up to three teams per zone allowed. Zone assignment will depend upon the outcome of your self assessment. We strongly recommend that trained flat-tailers attend training every five years.

How/when will we getour zone assignments?

ANS. You may select your zone by number or give a general description of an area that you would like to snowshoe and we will sign you up. Call 2082320825 if you need more info .

What is the lead agency responsible for setting the limits on beaver trapping?

ANS. Idaho Fish and Game, Four our region, (V), Dan Garren, Regional Supervisor, dan.garren@idfg.idaho.gov Zach Lockyer lead biologist zach.lockyer@idfg.idaho.gov

208-232-4703

Mail: Idaho Fisng and Game

Region V

1345 Barton Road

Pocatello, Idaho 83204

Some basic answers to questions

1. We are supposed to form our own teams--is that correct? I think I have three other people who want to join me.

ANS. Yes. They will have to be trained, however. Also, you will want to arrange transportation. If they are in your pod, you may car-pool. Otherwise, you will want to arrange separate rides. Please indicate all of the members of your team on the registration form.

Will there be on-line training?

ANS Yes. there is some on-line training on our Youtube Channel. You can also check out this power-point presentation (upper left-hand corner of the box)

What is a "self assessment"?

ANS. Everyone, trained and experienced, needs to do a physical self assessment. Namely, Ask yourself: "Can I snowshoe one -half mile with an incline of 150 ft without feeling uncomfortable, stress, shortness of breath or any pain?" If you have any doubt, consult your doctor. Anyone who is a new volunteer must to do a physical assessment on 1/30 at 10 AM.

Are there other assessments or checks we should do?

ANS. Yes. There are two other checks you should perform any time you expect to be out exploring your watershed. 1) your car: Extra blankets, tow strap, jumper cables, preserved food such as sardines, and water or soda are good things to keep in your car duing winter travel. Check out NHTSA for more tips on winter driving. Ensure that your vehicle is suitably equipped including good tires, flashlights, roadside reflectors and water.

When can we pick up our snowshoes?

ANS. Pick up your snowshoes the afternoon before training date or the evening before you plan to snowshoe.

Are we required to have a team?

ANS. You may count with no fewer than 2 team members and 3 or more is preferred. If you do not have a team, we can put you in a team. Meet new friends!

What gear should we bring?

ANS..Follow this link to the page below and view the recommended list of gear. This gear is not exhaustive and you must understand that it's your responsibility to verify you gear. We will go over our gear list at the training, but at a minium you must bring hat, gloves (I prefer mittens), heavy coat, water, and sturdy water-resistant boots. DO NOT WEAR TENNIS SHOES.

BeaverCount

January 25th: Training

What is BeaverCount training?

Training is a 1 day event where we will accomplish 3 goals.

1. Provide the basic instruction useful to survive a night in the winter

2. Allow new volunteers to self-access their ability to travel over uneven terrain some distances on snowshoes.

3. Learn key signs to identify beaver activity.

We will provide food.

Where is it?

Training will be at the Mink Creek area.

When is it?

We'll be training between 10AM and 2PM.

Introductions
Getting snow shoes fitted (you must register by Thursday to get your snowshoes and poles)

Who is running it?

Mike Settell will conduct the physical assessment.

Mike Doyle will demostrate winter survival techniques.

During training, you'll learn how to attach your snowshoes, basic snowshoeing techniques and how to use your poles. From there, you will assess your physical ability to snowshoe over various terrain. After the snowshoe hike, you'll hear about proper winter clothing, gear, conditioning and basic winter preparedness.

Once you have completed the training, you can participate in BeaverCount the following Saturday. Other criteria may apply to ensure that you have a positive experience

February 1st: Check in/Check out

The Check-in times are listed by the color of your chosen zone as shown below:

The location of the BeaverCount registration is the community of Christ Church on Bannock Highway. There you will get your log sheet, tracking chit, snacks and water if you need. We'll have hot coffee and bagels and fruit to start your day.

Start times:

RED Zones: 9AM
BLUE Zones: 10AM
GREEN Zones: 11AM

Check in:

Return to the Church before 4PM. Return your chit, and your log-sheet, get some hot chili and cornbread and some delicious drinks. YOU MUST CHECK IN. IF YOU DO NOT RETURN, THEN WE HAVE TO ACT ON OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN. $$$$$$$!

February 1st: The Count

Other Considerations

Register for the Count at the Community of Christ Church the Saturday following the training. Even if you have previously been trained, you must register for the Count. However, please notify us 48 hours prior to the Countif you require snowshoes, skis, poles or any other necessary equipment. include your weight an height on your registration.

You will pick your zones after you have completed training. These zones are not cast "in stone" and we can flex to accommodate your abilities and schedule. volunteers in your chosen zone, . The goal is the same: get to and from your zone safely and to have a wonderful experience.

Check the weather. Often we assume that conditions will be the same tomorrow as it is today. Not true. Most forecasts are accurate 4 days in the future.
Travel Safely. Have good tires. Drive with lights on. Keep an extra blanket in your car.
Verify your day pack has the 10 essentials and you have the weather-appropriate clothing and shoes for winter back-country as explained during your training. See below for weather updates.
You can find out more on our BeaverCount page for winter preparedness tips and tricks.

BC Update-Location

Location for BC 2025 on Feb 1st:

We will be set up at the Community of Christ Church on Bannock Highway. Start times are by by color: Red = 9AM; Green=10AM; Red =9AM. We will issue your chits . This means that you MUST return to this check out and return your log sheet and chit. We will also have hot soup or chili, drinks and snacks both when you leave and you return. Each zone will be chosen by your team and are based on difficulty such as distance to travel, steepness or brushyness

Available Zones

Currently we have the following zones available for trained Flat-tailers:

I
IIa
IIb
III
IV
V
VI
VIIa
VIIb
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIIi

There is till time to join up!

If you haven't registered, please do so by completing the registration form below.

ISU's Outdoor Leadership

Twelve years and counting

For 12 years, Watershed Guardians has mentored, supported, trained and provided scholarships to ISU Outdoor Leadership students. It has been a wonderful experience for them and us. We will continue to support them in achieving their natural future. To help us help them, visit our donate page and specify "ISU-OL" in your donation. In the meantime, please enjoy some of the pictures of past ISU-OL students "on the job".in the slide show below.

Minimum gear requirements

Winter Clothing

Long-sleeved, non-cotton shirt or sweater. Wool is preferred.
Warm shirt. Not cotton
Sweater. Non-cotton.
Long underwear, non-cotton.
Hiking boots. Rubber boots such as Muck boots, or Sorrells are best.
Extra wool socks.
Insulated parka or coat with hood.
Non-cotton stocking hat.
Non cotton mittens
Rain gear such as poncho or rain shell.

What We provide

Winter Clothing

Snowshoes
Poles
High Vis vests (for road count zones)
Log sheet
Fliers (Beaver Factoids to hand out).
Maps 2 per team
Fuel cards (ISU Students only, please)
Logistical Support

Do you have snowshoes? Poles? Bring them! That helps save us costs that we can use for other purchases/projects.

REQUIRED GEAR

Winter Clothing

Where did this gear list come from?

What follows is a list from the The Boy Scouts' of America (BSA) Scouting Hand book. "Basic Essentials". These are required prior to embarking on the Count. We have added an 11th item that we feel important and we require that volunteers have the requisite clothing listed in "Winter Clothing".

Pocket knife or multi-tool such as a Leatherman (tm). Not so heavy as to pull your pants down.
Raingear. Rain poncho or 30 gallon plastic trash bag.
Trail food. This can include granola, nuts and raisins. At least 2 granola bars
Flashlight. Include extra batteries. Put the batteries in reverse to prevent the light from coming on during hiking.
Extra Clothing. Include a light jacket, mittens, hat, sweater, wind pants, and non-cotton socks.
First aid kit. Bandaids, gauze, tape, astringent, antibiotic, lip balm. Materials to treat small scratches and blisters.
Sunglasses, lip balm adn billed hat.
Map, compass
Fire-starting kit or waterproof strike anywhere matches and kindling.
2, 1 liter (or quart) bottles of warm water.
Signal whistle.

Where did this gear list come from?

"When technology fails in the wilderness and you have no skills, you are going to die"--Mike Doyle,

Where did this gear list come from?

REQUIRED:

This list is taken from the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Handbook. It has been recommended the world over for the minimum requirements for outdoor adventures.

The basic consideration

"When technology fails in the wilderness and you have no skills, you are going to die"--Mike Doyle,

You are being asked to transport yourself on a windy, winter road to a destination that will likely have snow or ice on the road. Only pull over in designated, plowed parking lots. If you get stuck, stay in your car Put the flashers on. Wear bright clothing.

Cell phone service is sketchy.

Once you reach the creek, be careful not to get too close to the edge, The banks can be soft and unstable. It can be very difficult to extract yourself from the pond. It may be easier to remove your shoes.

You may also choose to travel through the brush. Be mindful of your eyes that you don't smack the person in the eye behind you. Wear sunglasses or safety glasses.

Your poles are like a second set of legs, They can help you climb, navigate through the brush, keep you upright and could help keep wild animals away. Use them!

Wildlife may be in the area. Do not interact with the wildlife any more than is necessary.

You may also run into hikers, skiers or fishermen. If the opportunity presents itself, explain what you are doing.

Thank you for helping us help them help us!

"When technology fails in the wilderness and you have no skills, you are going to die"--Mike Doyle,

Factors that influence survival:

The Will to survive,
knowledge,
equipment-

Remember, technology fails. Most of survival depends upon you remaining calm and using your knowledge:

Enemies of survival: Pain, cold, thirst, hunger, fatigue, boredom, loneliness and unwillingness to stay put
Factors that influence survival: Will to survive, knowledge, equipment.
Fitness. We give you the opportunity to test your physical abilities. It is up to you to decide when to quit. Do not over-exert yourself.

Do not underestimate the importance of staying hydrated. You can help with this by hauling warm water in your spare socks. As you drink the warm water, you can replenish it with snow and double the amount of water available.

COVID 19 Strategy

We managed to make it through CoVID (mostly), so wer are not being as restricitveabouht gathering. That said, boht riders and drivers, please use respect and precautions when riding with your car pool.

Car pooling is encouraged.

Wear a mask if requested.
Keep 6 feet apart from others.
Wash/Sanitize your hands .often.
Beaver count training
Self-assessment
We still have team names and best picture contest.
Everyone must register. (See below).
As always, we will have an alternate date in case weather dictates. The alternate date is February 11th, 2021.

Why not cotton?

COVID 19 Strategy

Cotton is what is known as hydro-phillic or water loving. Moisture from the outside or from your body accumulates in the cotton and it loses what little insulating properties it has. In some cold conditions, it is deadly. Don't bring it, don't wear it. This includes shirts, Levis and socks. Wool is best and polypropylene is second best.

Maps

COVID 19 Strategy

Maps

We will use two different USGS maps for this count. They are included below. These maps are "Pocatello South" and "Clifton Creek". They are below

Beavercount

BeaverCount

BeaverCount is Watershed Guardians' annual census of beaver activity in the Portneuf Watershed. We train volunteers in winter preparedness and how to identify beaver signs or spoor. We use the data collected to identify population trends that could reveal a collapse or near collapse of beaver population, and possibly prevent their demise.

Key facts

You must have been trained prior to joining the Count. This will be completed by January 30th and includes the physical self assessment 1 mile snowshoe hike.
You must be in good physical condition.
You must work with at least one partner.
You must register (see below).

We'll have more on this later! Check back for more details!

Summary of the Mink Creek BeaverCount

Location: Mink Creek Basin, Bannock County, Idaho.

Specific Name: South Fork, Main Stem Mink Creek

Stream length: 8.2 miles

8.3 miles

Total length: 10.5 miles Includes Bull Canyon

Management: USFS Westside Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Idaho Fish and Game, Region V, Dan Garren Regional Supervisor

Beaver Trapping: Currently restricted to 5 animals per year

Miles censused: 9.0

We have seen increased pressure in this area due to both regulated and un-regulated uses. Competing uses include grazing, irrigation and target shooting. We have petitioned the Idaho Fish and Game to close this area to trapping for the past two (four years) comment periods.

Photo Gallery

This was a little fellow we named "Tom Sawyer" He was trapped two years ago.(Gretchen Vanek)

Like a Swiss wood carver, the beaver peels the birch in smooth, single slices. We think we may be able to age the beaver by the cut-marks. Can you think of how?

Beaver Lodge on the SF Mink (ca 2018, photo: (Unknown)

You'll need a good pair of snowshoes to participate in BeaverCount. The newer shoes (not these) feature quick release bindings!

There are many options to travel to census zones. On this amazing day, the South Fork road was perfect for fat-tire biking! (Bruce Padian)

Never walk on thin ice! (Mike Settell)

BeaverCount

BeaverCount February 3th, 2024

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 1/27/24

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.

BeaverCount XII

BeaverCount January 27th - February 3, 2023-Weather permitting

Lookee there! Looks like little humanoid track!. Well, if you are lucky AND you attend BeaverCount, you might see this "spoor" or high quality evidence of beaver activity. You'll learn about your local watershed guardians or the North American Beaver. We like to give everyone a chance, including those who might not ever get into the watershed. You can help ensure that everyone who is interested can get the chance to snowshoe in our AMAZING watershed, the Portneuf River Watershed by thinking of us this coming #givingtueday, November 28th. Hopefully we'll have some more videos for you!

Registration

FAQs:

The basics

Some basic answers to questions

Some basic answers to questions

Some basic answers to questions

Some basic answers to questions

Some basic answers to questions

BeaverCount

January 25th: Training

February 1st: Check in/Check out

February 1st: The Count

BC Update-Location

Location for BC 2025 on Feb 1st:

Available Zones