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Beaver Reintroduction in the Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness

Beaver Reintroduction in the Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness. Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness. (1,475 sq. miles). Release Areas. Buffalo Creek. Hellroaring Creek. Stillwater River. Eagle Creek. Slough Creek. Project Origin.

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Beaver Reintroduction in the Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness

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  1. Beaver Reintroduction in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

  2. Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness (1,475 sq. miles)

  3. Release Areas Buffalo Creek Hellroaring Creek Stillwater River Eagle Creek Slough Creek

  4. Project Origin Abundant habitat devoid of beaver (Early 1980’s)

  5. Wilderness Reintroduction Requirements • Positive affect • Unable to recolonize • Sufficient habitat • Extirpation by humans • Historically present – currently absent

  6. Preparatory Documents • Minimum tool – Wilderness character • NEPA – Effects and public input • BA & BE – Protected species

  7. An Ecosystem Engineer Riparian habitat enhancement

  8. Colonization potential

  9. Sufficient Habitat 20 miles: 1st-3rd order streams

  10. Human role

  11. Beaver abundant until 1950’s

  12. Beaver absent in 1985- but evidence of past occupancy

  13. Cause of demise: • Trapping • Tuleremia • Willow decline

  14. West Fork Cabin – symbol of a trapping era

  15. A source for beaver– damage complaint

  16. System for delivery

  17. Relocation constraints : - Family groups - Early fall release

  18. 130 relocated – 40 at primary release sites

  19. Trapping curtailed

  20. What can we learn? Management actions as investigations

  21. 1986-2010 Annual structure inventories

  22. Inventory Example: Frenchy’s Meadow Dams Lodges Bank Lodges Caches

  23. Quantification of Physical Variables • Stream sinuosity • Stream width and depth • Sandbar distance • Willow canopy • Distance to confluence

  24. Results 1986-2010: • Carrying capacity reached – year 2000 • Colonies = 1.33/ km • Willow and standing water >15%

  25. Carrying Capacity Model: Colony success correlated with: - Greater stream sinuosity and depth - Less distance to secondary channel - Fewer gravel bars Colony success not correlated with: - Willow canopy

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