This just in: all those mountain men like Kit Carson and Caleb Greenwood and even Joseph Walker (buried in Martinez) that once traipsed around the Sierras looking for beaver were actually stunningly confused and misguided – with nothing whatsoever to keep them in shoe-leather once they left the central valley (which is obviously why they kept going back). The fact that beaver skins were used as currency in the 1800’s means absolutely nothing about their prevalence and all those sierra tribal words for beaver are merely a curiosity. Never mind that beaver in Colorado or New Mexico survive equally well at 10,000 feet or sea level and exist on both sides of the Grand Canyon. California is different. Our rivers were less hospitable than the other 48 states. Our rocks were pointier. Our hills were climb-ier. Our beavers were lazier. Fish and Game in its infinite wisdom has definitely spoken and of course since they have taken great pains to reference themselves, it must be true.
Although beavers were native to California’s Central Valley in the early 19th century, they were not generally known from the Sierra Nevada except where introduced by humans (Tappe 1942, pp. 7, 8, 13, 14, 20). Native beaver populations experienced great declines during the early exploration of California by traders and trappers (Tappe 1942, p. 6). Subsequent reestablishment and introductions have extended their original range (CDFG 2006, p. 1). In the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges, beavers inhabit streams, ponds, and lake margins from Modoc County south to Inyo County (CDFG 2006, pp. 1, 2). Beavers commonly inhabit riparian areas of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests and deciduous forests containing abundant beaver forage and lodge-building material, including Salix spp. (willows), Alnus spp. (alders), and Populus spp. (cottonwoods) (Allen 1983, p. 1; CDFG 2006).
Oh and in case you wonder. They also go on to say that beavers interfere with Native trout but its mostly not a problem.
At Golden Trout Creek, a single beaver dam had been maintained since 2003. No negative impacts from the beaver populations were documented. Therefore, we conclude that beaver activity does not currently constitute a threat to the California golden trout, nor do we expect it to in the future.
To which I can only reply, that’s mighty white of you CDFG!
