Read the details and submit comments by October 27
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is considering a new program that would provide guidance on how beavers can be transplanted in appropriate areas and ecosystems across the state.
In Montana, beavers can help improve riparian and wetland habitats that can create ecosystems that are more resilient to floods, wildfire and drought. In some areas, beavers can also cause problems for landowners and agriculture operations. Transplanting beavers can be one of many strategies to address problems for landowners in one location while improving habitat and natural water storage in another.
FWP staff have developed a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluates its proposal to establish a Montana Beaver Transplant Program (MBTP). The EA is open for public review and comment through Oct. 27.
The primary goal of MBTP is to provide guidance for how beavers could be transplanted into suitable habitats in their historical range in Montana. The program also outlines direction for how beaver transplants could be used to help address human-beaver conflicts. It emphasizes the continued use of non-lethal conflict solutions that allow beavers to remain in place, as well as lethal trapping techniques when a non-lethal solution is not feasible.
The MBTP provides a framework for when and how transplants could occur, and a process for evaluating projects and approving them based on input from relevant FWP staff and potentially affected landowners. Individual transplants would require further review and Fish and Wildlife Commission approval.
The draft EA, out for review through Oct. 27 at 5 p.m., lays out the potential benefits and impacts of the proposed MBTP. To review the EA and comment, go to FWP’s website, fwp.mt.gov, under “News and Public Notices.” Or request information and comment by mail to: FWP, Attn: Torrey Ritter; 3201 Spurgin Rd., Missoula 59804; by phoning 406-381-2339; or by emailing torrey.ritter@mt.gov.
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