Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has published its final Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy, establishing a comprehensive framework to guide conservation, restoration and management of beaver and beaver-influenced wetlands across Colorado.
Across the historical range of the beaver in North America, including Colorado, a growing wildlife conservation movement is focused on restoring the species and the ecosystem benefits it provides to formerly occupied habitats.
As Colorado’s state wildlife agency, CPW has managed beaver populations for decades. In recent years, however, agency staff, stakeholders and members of the public have expressed interest in a more proactive and coordinated approach to beaver conservation and management.
The strategy’s purpose is to increase and sustain the presence of beaver and beaver-influenced wetlands in suitable habitats, supporting the health of Colorado’s streams and wetlands and the wide range of wildlife species that depend on them.
The beaver strategy provides a framework for greater leadership, co- ordination and resources to support conservation and management efforts statewide.
Key topics addressed in the strategy include:
- Population and habitat status and monitoring.
- Beaver harvest management.
- Beaver restoration opportunities.
- Living with beaver: nonlethal conflict resolution.
- Translocation policy and protocol.
Development of the strategy included focus groups, written public comments and technical advising from partners and stakeholders. CPW looks forward to continued engagement and partnerships as implementation of the Beaver Strategy moves forward.
Learn more at https://cpw.state.co.us/species/beaver.