The Fall 2024 Binational Beaver Results Are In!

The Fall 2024 Binational Beaver Results Are In!

Beavers once thrived in the rivers of southeastern Arizona but were extirpated over 100 years ago due to extensive trapping. In an effort to restore this keystone species and the vital ecosystem services they provide, the Bureau of Land Management reintroduced beavers to the San Pedro River. Since 2021, Watershed Management Group and our partners have been monitoring the beaver population through annual bi-national surveys.

We have completed our fourth and most extensive annual bi-national beaver survey on the San Pedro River! Previously, we had only surveyed sections of the upper San Pedro River within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA), managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This past year, we expanded our efforts by to include sections of the middle and lower San Pedro River from downstream of Benson, AZ to Mammoth, Az. In total, 120 volunteers helped us survey 77.5 river miles from Sonora, Mexico to Mammoth, Arizona, by recording recent signs of beaver activity such as dams, lodges, tracks and tree chews.

Read more of the summary here, or you can read the full Methods & Results Report here.