Western Beavers supports landowners, producers, and communities in creating balance between beaver presence, riparian health, and the needs of working lands. We provide practical tools, technical guidance, and shared learning to help integrate beaver activity—such as water retention and stream restoration—into land management strategies.
Our approach is grounded in respect for local knowledge, production goals, and ecological resilience.
We believe that supporting beavers where they fit can strengthen operations, improve water systems, and build healthier landscapes. By working together, we help create long-term solutions that benefit both people and the land.
JOIN US. Getting to Know Your Local Beavers in Western Landscapes
A 3-Part Webinar Series (March 4 - April 8)
Looking for practical, field-based insight into beavers' world to help guide your beaver-based restoration planning?
Join Western Beavers for a three-part webinar series for restoration practitioners working in western, high-desert landscapes. The series offers field-tested guidance on beaver biology, assessing beaver activity, and using that information to support beaver occupancy and beaver-based restoration at scale. Learn directly from experienced field practitioners and beaver ecologists monitoring beavers across the West.
Why Beavers
It could be said that beavers were the original shapers of the American West. Since early times, this semi-aquatic rodent has been shaping the continent through its activities: slowing waters that flowed through steep, narrow valleys while collecting sediment and organic matter, and charging groundwater. In time, this activity transformed landscapes into the wide, beaver stream valleys that European-American settlers documented in their travels two centuries ago.
Once numbering in the millions within Oregon, 200 years ago beavers were trapped to near extinction. In beavers' absence, the habitat and wetted valleys that beaver had created and maintained — unraveled.
Research suggests a return of Oregon's original 'landscape shapers" can also return watershed health and resilience.
INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING BEAVER HABITAT ON ARID WESTERN LANDSCAPES?
Learn about beaver-based restoration, vegetation establishment and what beavers need to succeed.
.NEW! Beaver Strongholds Framework for Scaling Beaver Recolonization
Western Beavers Cooperative is a coordinated, cooperative effort of ordinary folks supporting landowners and beavers on Eastern Oregon landscapes. We connect communities, people and ideas with beaver-focused resources, guidance and support for working lands stewards and local agencies.
BEAVERHOODS - A WAY FORWARD
There's a lot of talk lately on how beavers can fix streams and the need for 'beaver reintroduction'. Many streams though are very broken, worsened by drought, without the conditions beavers need to settle and raise families. So we ask, in order for beavers to re-establish: What is it that beavers need to succeed, and how can we help them? BeaverHOODs provides an answer, and a path forward for natural beaver recovery.
BEAVER FOOD AND FORAGE REQUIREMENTS.
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Learn about beaver-based restoration, vegetation establishment and what beavers need to succeed.
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LAND STEWARD: I WANT BEAVERS
How to attract beavers to your property, to settle and family build.
WHAT'S YOUR NEED?
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
How to adapt infrastructure to address beaver challenges (ex. blocked culverts or PODs, flooding, damaged trees, etc.) to keep the water moving with beavers in place.
AGENCY
How to talk about beavers in my community, their benefits and their challenges for land managers and producers.
Some historical perspective, connection between beavers and water availability watershed health, and ways to attract/recruit beavers to your property.