Beavers (Castor canadensis) are on what might be a “short list” of animals conservationists want to see returned to former haunts. This is because the industrious rodents transform landscapes in many beneficial ways. A California beaver family is leading the way in Golden State recovery efforts.
According to Governor Gavin Newsom the release of the seven-member California beaver family is an important step in protecting wildlife and habitat.
The release was handled by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
The CDFW is as enthusiastic as the governor.
“Beavers help retain water on the landscape, which increases groundwater recharge, improves summer baseflows, extends seasonal flows and increases fuel moisture during wildfire season, effectively creating green belts that can serve as wildfire buffers or breaks and provide refugia for wildlife,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham, who joined the historic beaver release. “We look forward to duplicating these efforts on the Tule River Reservation in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains this spring.” Bonham was quoted in a CDFW news release.
The release follows a recent upgrade in beaver status in California. The engineers have been declared a “keystone species” recognizing their ecological importance.
However, beavers are engineers and their construction can impact property. CDFW has published tips on living with beavers to help reduce conflict.
Beaver have been severely impacted world wide, for their fur, meat and castoreum. Castoreum has been used as a food additive and for increasing honey production. Today, it is most commonly found as an ingredient in certain perfumes. After generations of hunting a number of countries are seeking to bring the beaver back.
The British Isles are one region seeking to reintroduce beavers. In fact, some enthusiasts may be releasing beavers ahead of any official program. “Anthony,” a beaver spotted in Wales, may be the first wild beaver in that region in 400 years. The British government is seeking to reintroduce wild beavers. The return of the California beaver family to wild waters shows the state is engaged in beaver reintroduction as well.