Cultivating Harmony: Vegetation Management for Beaver Coexistence

This Sips 'n' Science pub talk took place live on February 22, 2024 at Divine Distillers in Independence, Oregon. This event is part of the Luckiamute Watershed Council's Love Your Watershed program. In this live recording, resources for Willamette Valley willow identification and beaver-preferred vegetation are mentioned. You can find these resources and more at www.luckiamutelwc.org/managin...
Presentation Synopsis: George Kral, owner of Scholls Valley Native Nursery, delves into the intricacies of managing vegetation to effectively coexist with beavers. He highlights strategies for attracting beavers by planting specific trees and shrubs that serve as their preferred food sources. Additionally, he explores planting techniques that can discourage beaver activity in areas where their presence is undesirable. George's observations and lessons learned over decades of practice will provide valuable insights for landowners, natural resource managers, and anyone interested in promoting sustainable coexistence between beavers and humans. By understanding beaver behavior and employing effective vegetation management strategies, we can minimize conflicts and reap the benefits of these industrious ecosystem engineers.
About the Speaker: George Kral spent the first decade of his career as a forester and firefighter, managing forests and burning slash in the north Coast range. In 1997, he founded Ash Creek Forest Management, and in 2003 he co-founded Scholls Valley Native Nursery with his wife Sara. After 30 years as a field forester and nursery manager, George completed a PhD in landscape genomics at Oregon State University. Today, George actively manages nursery operations and horticultural systems development at their farm in western Washington County.
Thank you to Benton Soil & Water Conservation District, which provided funding that helped support this Sips 'n' Science webinar! Learn more at www.bentonswcd.org/
Learn more about the Luckiamute Watershed Council and subscribe to receive LWC event updates at www.luckiamutelwc.org/

[@nickhazy]

Very cool stuff to learn! Thanks for sharing! And thanks for planting willows in the riparian zone at our place. We see beaver activity from time to time.