Rodents of Unusual Size: Beavers Are Back in Humboldt County
A stunning and rare sighting along the South Fork of the Eel, May 18, 2024.[Photo by Ann Constantino]
[Photo by Ann Constantino]
However, as naturalists and river lovers shared recent sightings more and more frequently, local folks are learning that the beavers are back in Humboldt County. A popular local wildlife photographer, Ann Constantino, last week spotted beavers in Southern Humboldt and took a series of captivating images. (See more on Flickr)
Those who love the waterways around here are hoping these beavers make a splashy comeback as they play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by building dams that create wetlands, which in turn support a diverse range of plant and animal species.
[Photo by Ann Constantino]
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I can’t get that scene from naked gun out of my head!!
Nice beaver! 🤣
Beaver it or not…
Dam good news..
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn, I am going to see Wynona!
Y/T (For Adults Only) Hint: Search for ‘Primus Wynona’.
that’s great news… they also slow erosion and mitigate drought by recharging the aquifers. they have been in at least the lower Mad River for some decades
CJ, it’s too bad you lack the same appreciation for
our coastal dune wetlands and aquifers.
It will take decades for our peninsula to recover from
what you and the friends of the dunes have done to
our wildlife, our migratory birds and our stability.
When can we expect repairs?
As soon as the beaver spread that far.
Klamath has ’em too.
Imagine what the WaterBoards and the
Planning Department would have done
if pot growers destroyed this coastal wetland by
draining the wetland, for pot growing.
The fines could pay to rehab the area.
It’s time to begin treating grass removers
the same way we treat grass growers.
At least pot growers create a value, we can not say the same
about grass removers.
Go smoke another one.
You are an idiot.
Idiocy resides in those who do not understand that those dead trees are in a deflation-plane wetland destroyed for a weeding program.
Those destroyed wetlands must be compensated at three to one.
I hope the bill is sent to you and the rest of the moron-level native plant brigade.
Great news! And I love the reference to Princess Bride LOL!
So many good lines from The Princess Bride! 😉
i saw a dead beaver in the early 90’s back when you could drive on clam beach who apparently washed down the mad river. 3 inches of teeth, no doubt it was a beaver about 25 lbs.
I remember seeing a bever and it’s dam in Kettenpom area late 80s early 90s so they were not extinct. These beers did not show up mainly they had to come from somewhere
Place of origin is on the label.
In the 80’s they were common in Ruth above the lake on the Mad river.
This is absolutely great news! I have been seeing their “gnawings” on willow twigs along the Mad River and Redwood Creek for years.
Gives us humans hope. Good news article.
Some Beaver stuff:
‘European Beavers’ (Castor fiber) are common in the lower Mad River area.
Bigger than the North American Beaver, also can typically dig holes in the banks of the river. They were introduced in the early 1900’s and came from an international exposition in S/F.
A Lumber Baron saw them down there, liked ’em, and asked if they were going to be killed after the show (they said yes), he offered them some money, and then he brought them back to Humboldt County.
I have seen them (rarely) in the Mad River… and if you ever take a Helicopter ride over the lower Mad River you can see where they have built dams over some of the feeder creeks.
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Interesting Beaver Fact. Kit Carson came to our area waaay back in the 1830’s. Led a beaver trapping expedition. The party didn’t come to the coast, but made a pass through the coastal mountains trapping beaver.
‘Horse Flat’ (SE Humboldt/Men) was where they billeted their horses for awhile. Used to be a sign up along the dirt road that showed where they camped and had a bit of the story. Local Indians were amazed at seeing men riding horses, years later they related that story to the early whites that came into the area.
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they have made homes in the bank adjacent to the farm with the corn maze. they have utilized mans placement of historical rip rap (broken concrete slabs) in their home selection. there are otters that have utilized mans placement of automobiles in the bank just up from the 101 bridge.
The beaver’s in the Trinity river are tunnelers.
They learned how to deal with high water in winter buy staying above the water line.
Interesting. Bank Tunneling is a characteristic of the European Beaver.
Wonder if they made their way over from the Mad River.
Dunno !
Crazy critters. I had know idea European beavers were introduced.
They make regular sticks and stone homes in higher elevations where it doesn’t flood.
High Sierras had quite a few ponds when I was a kid.
The beaver never went anywhere… they have been here all along… in very small numbers and in hard to get to places… I don’t doubt that they are making a come back but they are doing it in there own.. with no management or help feom mankind… I’m in avid hunter and fisherman… and have seen them my entire life… especially in the lower eel river… and other estuarys in local rivers.
Beaver?
Uhhhh, you mean vagina…?
I mean, you know the guy?
Beavers have been here as long as I can remember, but never abundant.
This is so great. I hope they proliferate greatly. Beavers hold water on the land.
Great news. I’ve only seen them in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Ontario. I had a great alder walking stick pulled from a beaver dam. The grip end was gnaw marked
Be careful what you wish for….
They still do the tail slap when you surprise them.
Ever see a large gopher go after a small dog? I was the dog one day with a beaver.
Believe it or not, you need to RUN if one gets mad.
Definitely saw a large beaver swimming in the Trinity river north of Big Rock last year. We were rafting and it swam really close to the raft
Hey there, Kym Kemp and Ann Constantino. Wanted to let you know that we are bringing the Beaver Fever to the Kinetic Grand Championship this weekend. We are bringing the Beaver back in a big way. Come check us out at the Plaza or Halvorsen Park!
I have seen and photographed beavers in the lower Mad River in McKinleyville within the past six years from the Hammond bridge to Hiller Park area
It would be great to see more beavers in Humboldt, and more dams and ponds. One thing that might catch people’s imagination is the role of beaver ponds and wetland (they build canals of up to 1500 feet length and 5-7 feet width) to act as fire breaks, to stop forest fires and to provide shelter for animals during fires. Here’s an article from the National Geographic
How beavers became North America’s best firefighter (nationalgeographic.com)
So supporting beavers is actually in everybody’s interest. In the Scott River, a local initiative actually built artificial beaver dams to help to restore streams where beavers cannot settle anymore because they dry up during the summer
I saw a beaver swimming in Freshwater lagoon a few years back.