Montana Beaver Conflict Resolution Project

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Closeup of swimming beaver In 2019, the National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with the Clark Fork Coalition and Defenders of Wildlife, launched a pilot project to address human-beaver conflicts using non-lethal mitigation methods. With the ample support of a seasonal staff member housed at Defenders of Wildlife, we’ve sought to build greater tolerance for beavers on the landscape in western Montana, reduce conflicts with beavers, and increase awareness about the many benefits beavers provide for riparian and aquatic health.

Through the Beaver Conflict Resolution Program anyone who is experiencing or have observed a conflict in Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 2 area can contact Torrey Ritter (FWP Nongame Wildlife Biologist) or Elissa Chott (Conflict Resolution Technician) to learn more about how to construct devices designed to mitigate beaver conflicts. Examples include culvert fencing devices to prevent beavers from plugging culvert, pond levelers or pipe devices to lower water levels upstream of dams to prevent flooding, and tree fencing to protect mature trees and saplings from cutting.

Watch a pond leveler being installed!

Garrison Pond Leveler from Midwich on Vimeo.

Learn more about this innovative program by watching this additional video, reading our 2019-2022 impact report, and checking out the resources below. You can also contact program manager Elissa Chott at: elissa@clarkfork.org.

Useful links:
Make Way for Beavers – 6/25/20
Good PR for Beavers – 9/2/19
Interning in Conflict Resolution: How do we co-exist with our wildlife neighbors – 8/3/20
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MT FWP) Living With Beaver information sheet

Did You Know?
More than 80% of Montana’s wildlife species rely on beaver-created wetlands for survival!

Stories

Juvenile salmon

Slowing Down Streams for Salmon

Beavers and beaver structures help juvenile coho salmon survive and thrive

salmon in river

Beavers and Salmon: An Unexpected Alliance

Does the presence of beavers improve habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead?

Council Grover beaver mitigation

Make Way For Beavers

Thanks to a collaborative partnership, expert assistance is now available to public and private landowners seeking non-lethal approaches to manage beaver activity in Montana.

Beavers, Trout, and a Changing Climate

Research seeks to ensure beaver-related stream restoration is a boon rather than a bother for native trout.

beaver building a dam

Beavers as Ecopartners

These aquatic mammals are helping restore parched ecosystems in the West.

beaver in water

The Best Dam Water Engineers

Beavers offer help for western waters.

kingfisher flying over water

More Beavers Equals More Birds

In Western Montana, birds flock to beaver ponds

beaver in water

Beavers, Water, and Fire—A New Formula for Success

Low-tech stream restoration works wonders for people and wildlife.

beaver in water

Good PR for Beavers

A pilot project in western Montana shows how people and beavers can coexist.

people gathered at the Birch Creek restoration

How Beavers Boost Stream Flows

After seeing how beavers helped Birch Creek flow again, Idaho rancher Jay Wilde has inspired hundreds of people to try beaver-assisted stream restoration.

Marcia Brownlee

Rediscovering the North American Beaver

The Quest for a Keystone Species

Resources

Advancing Efforts to Restore Beavers for the Benefit of Montana Watersheds

2020 Strategy Meeting Report and Action Plan

beaver pond and house

Living With Beavers

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

Beaver swimming at sunset

A Pond of Gold

Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society

Keep Cool Creek Blackfoot

Beaver Habitat Workshop

The role of beavers in Western Montana

beaver in water

Beaver Restoration Guidebook

From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Where We Work

More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. The National Wildlife Federation is on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

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The National Wildlife Federation

Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world

PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583

800.822.9919

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