Think Wild seeks volunteers for expanded Oregon beaver restoration season
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Think Wild's Beaver Works Oregon program is seeking volunteers for an expanded fall field season after wildfires and unsafe summer conditions forced the cancellation and rescheduling of multiple restoration projects.
The recruitment push will run through September and October across Central and Eastern Oregon to make up for field time lost to smoke and fire closures.
Under Oregon state law, beavers are recognized as a keystone species and “nature's engineer” for their role in increasing water quality and quantity, reducing wildfire risks and providing refuge for wildlife. Beaver Works Oregon designs projects to support these natural processes by building structures that slow water and restore stream functions where beavers are absent.
The organization also plants native vegetation to provide food and habitat, assists with human-beaver coexistence efforts and conducts surveys to determine where beaver populations currently live and where restoration can support their return.
Fieldwork opportunities span multiple locations across Central and Eastern Oregon, including a native plant planting week at Crooked River Park, willow and cottonwood planting along Eightmile Creek and building Beaver Dam Analogs at Camp Creek in the Malheur National Forest. Beaver Dam Analogs are human-built structures designed to slow water flow and restore natural stream function in areas lacking active beaver populations.
Maureen Thompson, director of conservation at Think Wild, highlighted the connection between severe fire activity and wetland restoration needs. “This is the most destructive and largest wildfire season on record for Oregon, which has underscored exactly why this work matters,” Thompson said. “Beavers are powerful agents of landscape change. By slowing and storing water, reconnecting streams with their floodplains and creating wetland habitat, beavers can help Oregon stay wetter and more resilient during drought and wildfire and quite literally provide safe haven for other animals as the fire passes through their home.”
A major component of the program's long-term research involves beaver sign surveys. Volunteers receive training to identify physical evidence of beaver activity, including chewed vegetation, tracks, scat, dams, lodges and bank dens. Data gathered from these observations help land managers and conservationists understand historical presence, track existing populations and evaluate potential sites for future habitat restoration.
No prior experience in restoration or wildlife monitoring is required to participate, as training, tools and guidance are provided for all projects. Emily Sullivan, volunteer coordinator at Think Wild, noted that projects accommodate a wide range of skill and physical fitness levels. “If you've been considering volunteering with Beaver Works Oregon, now is the time to get started,” Sullivan said. “We have opportunities for a wide range of interests and abilities. Some projects are physically demanding and take us deep into the field, while others are accessible to beginners and families. You can bring friends, learn something new, spend time outside and directly contribute to healthier wildlife habitat and a more fire-resilient region.”
Volunteer events begin with beaver research and monitoring on Sept. 19–20, followed by the Crooked River Park planting week from Sept. 21–27. Scheduled October activities include a family-friendly survey day on Oct. 3, Beaver Dam Analog construction at Camp Creek in Malheur National Forest from Oct. 12–16, and plant restoration along Eightmile Creek from Oct. 21–24, alongside multiple monitoring sessions running through Oct. 30.
