IDAHO BEAVER DROP

IDAHO BEAVER DROP

THE 1948 BEAVER DROP WAS AN IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PROGRAM TO RELOCATE BEAVERS FROM NORTHWESTERN IDAHO TO THE CHAMBERLAIN BASIN IN CENTRAL IDAHO. THE PROGRAM INVOLVED MOVING 76 BEAVERS BY AIRPLANE AND PARACHUTING THEM DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS FROM AREA RESIDENTS ABOUT PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY BEAVERS. PARACHUTING THE BEAVERS PROVED TO BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND IT ALSO DECREASED BEAVER MORTALITY RATES MORE THAN ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RELOCATION.