OHIO CELEBRATES BEAVER. NO, REALLY!

Saving beavers in Ohio? Sure it could theoretically happen. But It’s not something you see every day. I mean I’m so old that I remember the horrible story where a very cruel Ohio man bought very old tigers for his private hunting grounds and then let them all lose before he died.

The police had to hunt all 19  down in neighborhoods.

It’s a new day for beavers and Ohio.

Beavers are a keystone species

Have you taken a walk at Shawnee Prairie Preserve lately? If not, I recommend hiking out across the mud creek bridge towards the Beaver Wetlands. Once you cross the bridge, you will be on the “Beaver Path,” aptly named for the amount of beaver activity you can see along the trail. Keep your eyes peeled for beaver chews and mud slides as you make your way to the Beaver Wetland observation area.

Beavers are fascinating mammals and some of the greatest engineers on the planet. In fact, there are only two mammals that will change their environment to suit their needs. While the beaver is one, can you guess who the other mammal is? If you guessed humans, you would be correct! A beaver’s ability to destroy and build using the natural resources in their immediate environment is what makes them a keystone species. What does this mean? What makes an animal a keystone species? Well, if you can imagine, on a stone archway, the center stone at the very top, is called the keystone. If the keystone is removed, the entire arch will fail and fall to ruin. Likewise, if a keystone species is killed or removed from their environment, the entire ecosystem that was built around them will begin to fall apart. As a beaver dams a waterway, the water that builds up on the other side creates a new, specific habitat suitable for the beaver. In turn, other species that may have never existed in the area prior to the creation of this new habitat, move in to utilize the new real estate. So long as the beaver is able to maintain their engineered dams, the ecosystem they created will thrive.

Wow. Well actually a while after but then everything falls apart. Right.

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that you could find signs of beavers along the “Beaver Path” at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. However, I never said anything about actually seeing one! Funny enough, I have never seen the beavers within the preserve, only signs of their presence. Beavers are crepuscular animals which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. So, if you are hoping to see them, you will either need luck on your side or plan your walk shortly after the park opens or right before the park closes. All of the parks across the Darke County Park District are open from sunrise to sunset which leaves you a narrow window to find these secretive animals. If you do happen to encounter one of the beavers at Shawnee Prairie, be sure to take a photo and send it to us using our new “Wildlife Sightings” website feature at www.darkecountyparks.org/wildife-sightings.rks’ other preserve, Tecumseh Point. This excess water could possibly cause Greenville Creek to flood the Greenville City Park and beyond. Back at the wetland, as the water wouldbegin to drain, species that relied on the wetland, like fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, salamanders, birds, and the beaver itself, would be at risk. Along with water supply, food chains and shelters would also be compromised and many animals would be left without sufficient habitat to survive. Thankfully, this hypothetical will never become reality while our beaver population remains healthy within the preserve.

GULP. Wow Ohio? That’s impressive. But I guess when ideas catch on they catch on all over. Good for you and Shawnee Preserve.

Beavers have always had a prominent role in human history. If we rewind time back to 1748, during early settlement in the area that would eventually become Ohio, fur trappers were hunting beavers for their pelts because they were extremely valuable. Beaver fur is thick and insulated to keep them warm from frigid temperatures as well as being oily, making them water repellent. This high-quality fur was turned into clothing and remained in high demand by those who could afford it. However, by 1830, just 82 years after the establishment of the first trading post in the area, beavers would be extirpated from Ohio. It would take 117 years and the passing of several wildlife laws and regulations, like the Lacy Act of 1900, before beavers would eventually return to Ohio in 1947. Keep in mind, that was only 77 years ago that our beavers returned, and populations are still recovering to this day.

Sure beavers being trapped out of Ohio, that sounds familiar. But praising their return? Just wow.

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that you could find signs of beavers along the “Beaver Path” at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. However, I never said anything about actually seeing one! Funny enough, I have never seen the beavers within the preserve, only signs of their presence. Beavers are crepuscular animals which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. So, if you are hoping to see them, you will either need luck on your side or plan your walk shortly after the park opens or right before the park closes. All of the parks across the Darke County Park District are open from sunrise to sunset which leaves you a narrow window to find these secretive animals. If you do happen to encounter one of the beavers at Shawnee Prairie, be sure to take a photo and send it to us using our new “Wildlife Sightings” website feature at www.darkecountyparks.org/wildife-sightings.

I remember that beavers are hard to spot in the winter months. They have long periods of darkness and can avoid us better. But keep looking spring is bound to come eventually.