One of the very first beaver stories I remember reporting on from another state with real admiration was the story of Mike Settell leading beaver count for Audubon in the city of Pocatello Idaho. I was so impressed that he had even managed to get a grant from Audubon to count beavers because they meant so much to birds. I was trilled to meet Mike at the State of the Beaver C0nference and pass on anything we had learned in Martinez.
And now look.
10th annual Beaver Dam Jam Idaho set for Sept. 9 at FMC Park to benefit Watershed Guardians
POCATELLO — The 10th annual Watershed Guardians Beaver Dam Jam Idaho, to support beaver conservation, will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 at the FMC Park west of Chubbuck.
“We’ll have organizations with booths, activities for youth, live music, food trucks, raffles and fly-casting seminars,” said Mike Settell, Watershed Guardian founder. “It’s in a beautiful setting and we are offering special pricing for car-pooling. Hope to see you there.”
There will be games and activities for kids. Up to three local bands will be performing. No dogs are allowed except permitted service dogs.
GO MIKE and the Watershed Guardians! You continue to be an inspiration!
Tickets are $40 a carload and are available online from Brown Paper Tickets at BeaverDamJam tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6113273.
Watershed Guardians helps the Portneuf Watershed, by helping beaver. Proceeds from the events will support BeaverCount, a free winter event to census beaver colonies in the Portneuf Watershed.
Funds raised help us pay for snowshoe and ski rental for our annual BeaverCount,” Settell said. We don’t have a city, agency or corporate entity covering operating expenses. We are 100% volunteer. Your support goes a long way.”
Funds also support beaver mitigation projects in rural areas such as BeaverDeceivers, pond levelers and tree coatings.
For more information, visit the website WatershedGuardians.org
More information on the event is also available by contacting Mike Settell at 208-220-3336 or mike@watershedguardians.org.
Idaho officials have been gradually stepping up to the idea that beavers are worth having ar0und and it is no exaggeration to say that Mike is the Endless Pressure Endlessly applied that got them there. He has been a voice for beavers and a burr under the saddle of every oblivious trapping advocate for more than a decade.
Congratulations Mike for all that you’ve accomplished.
