A strong body of scientific research shows beavers benefit salmon and steelhead by building better habitat conditions, including creation ponds used by salmon and by increasing stream flow in summer months. Beavers’ role is so important that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) included beaver population restoration as a goal of the recovery plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern California coastal coho salmon. The challenge alleges Wildlife Services failed to consult with NMFS over impacts to endangered salmon from lethal beaver removal, as required by the Endangered Species Act.
At a time when we are spending millions of dollars a year to improve salmon habitat, including the construction of ‘beaver dam analogues,’ human-made facsimiles of beaver dams designed to help improve stream flow and create more and better salmon habitat, it is absurd that we are spending taxpayer money to kill more beavers. Help support this groundbreaking litigation by donating to EPIC today.
***WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF BEAVER TRAPPED AND KILLED BY WILDLIFE SERVICS BELOW***
California beaver trapped by Wildlife Services. Photo Credit – APHIS
California beaver killed by Wildlife Services. Photo credit – APHIS
Family of California beavers killed by Wildlife Services. Photo Credit – APHIS