Beaver and Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs)

Under the new pilot Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Beaver Relocation program, The Lands Council will be permitted to continue to relocate nuisance beaver in the state of Washington. In 2019, WDFW restructured the permitting process to create a program to allow more beaver to be relocated in Washington State. To house beaver during capture and relocation, we are constructing our new husbandry facility

We are also busy simulating the work of our beaver friends by installing Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs). BDAs are man-made structures designed to mimic the form and function of a natural beaver dam. They increase the water retention abilities of landscapes by raising the water table to levels of vegetative availability, retaining moisture on the landscape, and mitigating fire risk. BDAs also increase the probability of successful beaver translocation by creating immediate deep water habitat to reduce the risk of predation. In the last decade, The Lands Council has relocated over 100 beavers.