1. Beaver Reintroduction in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

2. Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (1,475 sq. miles)

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

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: 1 st -3 rd 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

18. System for delivery

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

22. 130 relocated – 40 at primary release sites

24. Trapping curtailed

30. What can we learn? Management actions as investigations

31. 1986-2010 Annual structure inventories

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

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

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

36. 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