Completion Form

2021

Two seasonal technicians were hired for the project including Bryce Bonzo, and Steven Orme. 
 The project also paid for two seasonal vehicles which are crucial to the success of the program.

From July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, traps were set at:
Mammoth
Santa Clara
Mammoth/Tommy Creek
North Creek basin, Escalante RD
Pacer Lakes- Boulder
Sevier River - Oak City / Leamington
Websters Flat
Upper Beaver River 
Lower Beaver River
Canal diversion Beaver River
South Gate- Santa Clara
Virgin
North Fork Virgin 
Fishlake
Torrey
Koosharem

The live traps used were Hancock or Koro style traps.  Each trap was secured with a cable and rebar stake, and baited with gland or lure and vegetation.  Traps were checked each morning, and reset for the following evening.  Before each site was trapped, notes were made about the complaint in a Google Form as well as an Excel spreadsheet (google sheets) for record keeping.  Teresa Griffin and Rhett Boswell contacted Forest Service biologist and other stakeholders on the trapping and release sites. All captured nuisance beaver were held in quarantine at the SRO facility and processed by DWR vet Annette Roug. VHF Transmitters were attached to healthy adult beavers.

Beavers were fed each day with fresh willow and aspen, had water changes done each morning, and mister systems turned on in the morning to keep the ambient temperature cooler.  During the heat of the day, beavers congregate under a ramp or inside a metal barrel, which allows them to dry out completely, so they are utilizing clean water each evening.

Once beavers were caught, arrangements were made with technicians and Forest Service personnel to relocate the beavers.  The Forest Service spent approximately $10,000 in-kind dollars assisting with beaver translocation and monitoring efforts.  The Division of Wildlife Resources staff (not including beaver technicians) spent approximately $15,000 in-kind dollars with processing, translocation, and monitoring efforts.

Throughout this project, most beavers were "processed;" meaning they were given tail transmitters, oxygen levels, respiration rate and heart rate monitored, identified gender, measured, weighed and given an approximate age and body condition score.  The VHF tail transmitters have shown us survival and movement post translocation.  Kits were not given tail transmitters because of the size of their tails relative to the transmitters.

We have identified some beavers as "alive" and some that have died throughout this process.  However, there are still multiple beavers we have been unable to locate since VHF transmitters were attached; we are still actively searching for these frequencies through surveys performed by Forest Service, Division of Wildlife biologists and seasonal technicians.

A total of  34 beavers were moved during this fiscal year, which is an increase from the 22 that were moved the previous year. Kill trapping does not factor in this figure which was a necessary DWR action in areas where beaver are not tolerated due to threats to fishery infrastructure.  This year with two technicians, we were able to accommodate most nuisance calls and deploy adequate trap-set days.  We have noticed an increase in public satisfaction when we quickly address or resolve beaver nuisance issues, and conduct concurrent trapping in multiple known beaver nuisance areas.

The primary FY 21 relocation areas were as follows:  
Little Creek (Panguitch Unit)
Red Creek (Panguitch Unit)
Robinson Canyon (Paunsaugunt Unit)
Shingle Creek (Beaver Unit)
Monkey Fork Dry Canyon Fishlake NF (Monroe Unit)
Threemile Creek (Panguitch Unit)
Rattle Snake (Pine Valley Unit)

Monitoring has occurred at many release location searching for live beavers or sign that they are beginning to construct dam features.  We are gaining more support from counties and private landowners who see the benefits from beavers.  We hope to increase documentation of released beavers and additional benefits to riparian vegetation.  One area that is responding exceptionally well is Sieler Meadow along the East Fork of the Sevier.  We would like to applaud the partnership that DWR has with the federal biologists, without them and their support, this project wouldn't be possible.  Their willingness to always help, or offer their technicians to support transporting beavers, or doing telemetry is priceless when we are all busy and stretched thin.  THANK YOU PARTNERS!

Teresa Griffin

08/31/2021 12:48:58