Illinois_Beaver

The mission of the Illinois Beaver Alliance is to improve the health and function of Illinois watersheds, which will increase climate resilience, improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and create floodwater storage capacity; and to educate the public about the ecological importance of beavers and the modern tools for resolving human-beaver conflicts. The Illinois Beaver Alliance was formed when one community learned about the ecological value of beavers. One Thursday night in April 2021, we learned that a Glenview homeowners association was planning to trap and kill a pair of beavers living in their water retention ponds because of the tree damage they had caused. The HOA was planning to use underwater traps, which trap beavers underwater where they eventually drown. Starting that night, a group of animal-loving friends mobilized. We put together a Facebook group--The Glenview Beavers Fan Club--talked to the media, planned a rally, and told everyone that the tree damage could be easily remediated without resorting to lethal methods by wrapping tree trunks with wire mesh and planting evergreens. Because of the outcry from the community, and because of the information that we shared about underwater trapping and non-lethal remediation of beaver damage, the HOA decided not to kill the beavers. Cocoa and Brownie went on to have kits--baby beavers--and we all get to go to the ponds and enjoy them. From there, we decided to launch a nonprofit to educate the public about the incredible ecological importance of beavers. The Illinois Beaver Alliance promotes the use of process-based river restoration, including beaver-related restoration, in the State of Illinois.