Airborne beavers: Idaho's historic relocation mission revealed
In the 1950s, the United States implemented a pioneering method of relocating beavers using parachutes. During that period, the beaver population in Idaho began to grow rapidly, which posed administrative challenges. The solution was to move beavers from populated areas to more remote, wild locations. However, this task encountered logistical difficulties.
Idaho authorities devised the idea of airlifting the animals to address the challenges associated with transporting beavers. In 2015, film footage documenting this unusual project was revealed, providing evidence of this historical practice. The authorities were keen on relocating beavers due to their beneficial environmental impact.
Unusual operation in Idaho
As the WWF Poland organisation explains, beavers are significant for water retention. Their activities could potentially reduce water management costs by up to 24 million dollars annually, with the dams they build serving as natural water reservoirs and supporting soil erosion prevention.
Parachutes from materials dating back to World War II transported the beavers. The animals were placed in special containers and then dropped near water bodies. In this nearly entirely successful venture, 76 beavers participated. The most challenging difficulty was with one beaver, which exited the container from about 23 metres.
However, lusher vegetation has been observed in the newly inhabited areas over time. Although the method did not gain widespread popularity, it contributed to reforestation and reduced fire risk in the areas where the animals were settled.
