Beavers Thrive in Pacific Northwest Tidal Zones

Greg Hood, an estuarine ecologist, discovered beavers are more prevalent in the tidal wetlands of coastal British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon than previously known. Hood surveyed areas often overlooked by scientists, tidal shrub and forest habitats, and found beavers actively building dams in these ecosystems.

He observed beaver dam density in some tidal channels to be double that of non-tidal rivers. These tidal dams are typically shorter, likely functioning to trap water during low tides, enabling beaver movement throughout the river system regardless of tidal fluctuations.

The dams also create crucial low-tide refuges for fish, potentially benefitting endangered salmon species. Hood is now collaborating with the Tulalip Tribes to track beaver movements using GPS tags, aiming to understand habitat use, territory size, and the relationship between beaver activity and tidal patterns. This research could reshape conservation efforts by recognizing beavers as keystone species in coastal ecosystems and aiding in the restoration of lost intertidal habitats.