There’s some nice new research out of Oregon which shows that beavers are getting around the state nicely. They disperse better in the same watershed but manage even across watersheds thank you very much. Color me not at all surprised.
Few studies have accessed the impacts of dispersing beavers, making it difficult to determine best practices for translocations. A new study from scientists at Oregon State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Wildlife Research Center begins to change that.
The scientists, who collected genetic samples from almost 300 beavers in the Coast Range of western Oregon, sought to understand whether landscape features, such as slope and distance to water, influenced gene flow among beavers.
They detected relatively strong genetic differentiation of beavers, which they believe is shaped by watershed boundaries and past relocations of the rodents. This led them to recommend that relocation efforts of beavers in topographically complex landscapes, like the Coast Range, occur within watersheds when possible.
Well, okay. I’m up for more relocation so that we can spread out the water in the gene pool.
“We wanted to see if there were things that are limiting beaver dispersal in western Oregon, whether they are not able to disperse because of geography or some physical limits,” said Jimmy Taylor, a research wildlife biologist with the U.S.D.A’s National Wildlife Research Center in Corvallis and a courtesy faculty member at Oregon State. “Our findings indicate that doesn’t seem to be the case. They seem to be moving freely within watersheds, with at least occasional movements between watersheds.”
Jimmy Taylor is a complex character in beaver world. I called him about Martinez wayy back in the day. He is definitely the kindest and most genuine beaver friend in the entire breadth of Wildlife Services USDA. But honestly there’s not much of a contest. I have to remember to readjust my standards every time we speak because he definitely doesn’t LOVE beavers the way I do. But he does know they’re important. And works to understand and share that fact as much as he can.
All God’s children got a place in the choir, you know.
In the recently published paper, the researchers focused on beavers in the Coast Range of Oregon, a region characterized by multiple watersheds, dense forests and steep hillside slopes.
They then mapped records of beaver translocations during the 20th century to consider the effect of those movements on the genetic structure of beavers.
They concluded that slope and distance to water did not strongly limit dispersal and gene flow by beavers in this system, but that dispersal is more common within watersheds, as opposed to between watersheds.
“This is a native species” Taylor said. “I’m pleased we see gene flow. This is an animal that’s well established and dispersing in its native ecosystem.”
Beavers get around. They find their way to move from one watershed to the next. That’s what we see in the Bay Area. And that’s what our European friends are noting as well.
Taylor is also hopeful that this research will lead to a greater appreciation of beavers in the Coast Range, where they are not as visible because they don’t tend to build dams or lodges in that landscape.
“There are a lot of beavers on the landscape but people don’t know that because they don’t see the classic signs that they learned in children’s books,” he said. “Part of what I’m trying to do is politely, respectfully educate people that there are a lot more on the landscape out there, and they are not all providing the cascading series of dams that people are looking for, but they still contribute to ecosystem services.”
Well said, Jimmy. Beavers provide ecosystem services even in habitats where people don’t expect them too. Like say in CITIES for example. In Martinez we watched that happen up close.
You must induldge me this morning because ever since the Caldor fire started I’ve been hearing phantom helicopters in the back of my mind and last night the monster turned towards my favorite place in all the world. Now the place where we canoe, skied, hiked and explored many seasons over many year has been evacuated and my parents property cannot be far in the future.
. If you have are lucky enough to own a tree, be kind to it today.
Join Lily on a nice walk in the woods along the Green Creek Trail up to an area of beaver activity. We will discuss the roles beavers play in an ecosystem, how their behavior contributes to mountain meadows, and a brief history of beavers in the Sierra.
