March 2023 - 16

IN THE FIELD
Beaver relocation looks
to improve habitat
Work in the Sheridan Region shows benefits to find new homes for beavers
By Christina Schmidt
I
n September and October 2022, in cooperation
with the U.S. Forest Service, Sheridan
Region Aquatic Habitat Biologist
Travis Cundy live-trapped several beavers
from four private properties in the Sheridan
area and relocated them to two sites on the
Bighorn National Forest.
" We began live-trapping and relocating
beaver in the 1990s as a way to improve riparian
habitat, " Cundy said. " The goal is to use
the dam-building activities of beaver to help
hold water longer on the landscape, essentially,
to build a sponge. We are trying to slow
down water movement so it can help build
up water tables and create more vegetation. "
Live-trapping is done in late summer or
early fall, which coincides with increased
beaver activity as the animals begin caching
food for the winter. This timing encourages
the animals to begin these preparations rather
than leave the area to establish a new territory.
Cundy targets mated pairs and their offspring
when identifying potential trap sites, which
increases the likelihood that the animals will
stay in the release area.
This past fall Cundy trapped 10 beavers
from properties where they were building
dams that conflicted with landowner goals.
Live-traps were set with food and castor
oil lures and placed partially submerged in
areas where the beavers were most active
based on the presence of foot trails leaving
the water. When a beaver stepped on the
trigger plate, the suitcase-shaped trap closed
around it with the animal above the waterline.
The animals were safely transferred into
a specially-modified trailer for holding and
transporting beavers.
16 | March 2023
Travis Cundy, Wyoming Game and Fish Department aquatic habitat biologist, releases a beaver in the Sheridan Region. (WGFD photo)

March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023

March 2023 - 1
March 2023 - 2
March 2023 - 3
March 2023 - 4
March 2023 - 5
March 2023 - 6
March 2023 - 7
March 2023 - 8
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March 2023 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com