Beaver Partnerships & Programs

Help us support beavers as they bolster our ecosystems

Why do we need beavers?

Beavers are builders of wetlands, which hold cooling water during droughts and slow speeding water during floods. These environments are becoming increasingly more important as our climate warms.

Plus, beavers are a “keystone” species – their presence is essential to the survival of other species. Dedicated to building dams and keeping water in place, they move upstream and down creating new ponds. The areas they leave behind become meadows and shrub lands, which are important habitats for many plants and animals, from moose to mink.

BEEC’s Beaver Partnerships

Sometimes beavers’ plans conflict with human plans, which can cause trouble. They can clog culverts, cut down favorite trees, and flood fields. But because beavers are so important, BEEC advocates for solutions to these conflicts that work for people and beavers. We work to raise awareness of the ecological benefits generated by beavers. We also partner with towns in the region to increase their capacity to manage conflicts non-lethally.

Beavers have been a feature of our programming for over 15 years. Since then:

Hundreds of people have been introduced to beavers in the field.
Many college, school, and community groups have enjoyed presentations on beavers.
Readers of the Brattleboro Reformer have followed the lives of the beavers in Patti’s monthly column, “A View from Heifer Hill.”
BEEC has become a resource for people looking for humane ways to solve beaver conflicts.
BEEC is working with the towns of Halifax and Westminster to solve beaver conflicts and build support for beavers’ work.

Become a beaver benefactor!

When you symbolically adopt a beaver, you earn a cool patch & certificate, and you help us continue our important work!

Adopt a beaver ▸

Beaver Camps & Programs

Beavers need more allies! BEEC’s 2-day intensive Beaver Camps allow participants to jump right into the wetland world and align themselves with these remarkable critters. Beaver Camp I offers an introduction to beaver biology, ecology, and hydrology. We explore wetlands, help build a flow device, and learn about advocacy.

Beaver Camp II brings in professional beaver outsmarter, Skip Lisle, to teach about methods for conflict prevention including protecting culverts and fencing valuable trees. We learn how Skip analyzes a site for filters & fences, and picks materials to suit. We get out into the field and built our own flow device, and watching the beavers in their natural habitat tops the experience off.

Upcoming Beaver Events

No events are planned at the moment, but please join our mailing list to stay informed, and feel free to get in touch to design a custom program!

Interested in learning more about beavers?

Get your cuteness fix with our YouTube Beaver Playlist where you can see beavers in the wild and meet our rescued orphan kits!

Tune into this Vermont Edition interview with BEEC naturalist Patti Smith and Skip Lisle of Beaver Deceivers International. In this episode we explore the ecological and hydrological value of beavers.

What participants say about BEEC’s beaver programs:

"Participating in the Beaver Deceiver Build workshop at BEEC was an incredibly inspiring experience. The program deepened my understanding of beaver ecology and human-wildlife coexistence while giving me hands-on skills to help solve ecological challenges in a practical, creative way."

"I’m grateful for the chance to learn from such knowledgeable instructors and to be part of a community dedicated to thoughtful, effective conservation work."

"It strengthened my connection to the natural world, increased my appreciation for wetlands and the role beavers play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, and inspired me to think critically about conservation solutions. I also had the opportunity to connect with others working in the conservation field, which was both motivating and energizing."

"I love that BEEC programs are creative, fun, lots of outdoor time, great staff & good vibes! After summer camp this year, my daughter said that she wants to do BEEC camp all year long! She had an awesome time."