Congratulations to Ben Goldfarb and his intrepid wife Elise who boldly became parents this week of the beautiful new life “Florence”. We wish them all the benefits of a full nights rest in about 7 months.

Beavers put to work saving two Utah rivers

National Parks are often referred to as “America’s best idea.” That’s what followers of the National Parks and Forests Supporters believe, anyway (and they’re probably not wrong). Earlier this month, the Facebook page highlighted another great idea, this one regarding a unique conservation effort.

The unique conservation effort is… beavers. In 2019, researchers began moving captured beavers who had become a nuisance to humans along stretches of the San Rafael and Price Rivers in Eastern Utah.

The idea is that beavers—often considered nature’s engineers—reshape river landscapes by felling trees and building dams. All of this busy activity conserves water and creates wetlands that sustain countless other species. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, they are “one of the most cost effective and sustainable solutions for ecological restoration and climate change resilience.”

 And its another day that ends in Y. Beavers help degraded rivers. Who knew?’

And our desert rivers are indeed in need of ecological restoration. Human activities including the constructions of reservoirs, dams, and diversions have depleted their crucial water supplies and consequently degraded natural habitats of the local flora and fauna, as reported by Utah State Magazine. 

Cue the beavers. Two years after they joined the small pre-existing population, Emma Doden, a then-Utah State University graduate student who participated in the conservation experiment, told the BBC that her team found dams in regions where they had previously never been observed. 

While a number of the 47 total translocated beavers died or moved away from the target restoration area, “a few of these beavers stuck where we put them. And even the ones that didn’t – we had some move 20km [12 miles] downstream, which is pretty far for a small little animal – they are probably still helping the system, as the river is so degraded,” she said.

Sure a FEW die or get eaten but no matter. The leftovers are still doing good work!

By 2023, the experiment was still working. The researchers saw more dams than before their study on beaver translocation, behavioral ecologist Julie Young at Utah State University told The Wildlife Society. Some beavers improved regions of pre-existing analog dams—or human-made beaver-like dams built for environmental restoration purposes. 

“What heavy machinery and government programs couldn’t do, a few rodents pulling sticks through the mud did better,” the National Parks and Forests Supporters post concludes. 

While the post doesn’t cite specific evidence backing their claim regarding government intervention, there’s no arguing that beavers—like invasive-plant-eating goats—are a more natural solution. 

Vermont is getting a very deep beaver bench. And honestly it should be that way since Vermont is the home of Skip Lisle and Patti Smith and a host of other powerful beaver voices. I am glad to see things are spreading.

Vermont installs beaver-saving, flood-preventing deviceI

In an effort to further protect beavers in Vermont, a coalition of animal and environmental advocates installed a flow device on land stewarded by Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary in Orange to protect against future flooding, which devastated communities and wildlife across the state in 2023. “Beaver deceivers” are known to be “humane infrastructure designed to regulate water levels while allowing beavers to remain in place,” according to a press release.

The beaver deceiver was installed by Beaver Deceivers LLC with the backing of In Defense of Animals. 

“This beaver family has survived a lot,” Katie Nolan, Wild Animals campaigner at In Defense of Animals, said. “Thanks to this flow device, they now have a real chance to thrive—and to show other towns across Vermont what’s possible when we choose coexistence.”

While beavers are known to help maintain vital wetlands, this helps to “improve water quality, recharge groundwater, support biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change,” according to a press release.

That is the best kind of press release! Good job!

Beavers are powerful ecosystem protectors—not pests,” Nolan said. “Instead of destroying their dams and killing them, we now have the opportunity to protect human infrastructure and beaver lives at the same time.”

The device took the place of underwater traps previously used for wildlife control, which caused beavers to drown with prolonged suffering for up to nine minutes, according to a press release. The device also prevents damaged roads and culverts due to dam-related flooding.

In Defense of Animals said the project serves as a model for other towns and landowners across Vermont and beyond.

“This is about more than saving one beaver family,” Nolan said. “It’s about showing that compassionate, cost-effective, long-term solutions are not only possible—they’re working. We hope this inspires other communities to follow suit.”

Great summary. Let me know when you’d like to brainstorm about beaver festival ideas. You know that’s next.

Finally the trailer we’ve all been waiting for.

I’m so excited I’ve added a countdown clock to the website. I’m taking theories about why it’s called “hoppers’. I suppose it has something to do about the transfer to another body but MY theory is that the ‘C’ fell off the sign during production!