Tag Archives: beaver

Beavers make things better for amphibians

Here’s some interesting research on the relationship between beaver activity and amphibian populations . . .

Beavers in Glacier National Park modify wetlands in a way that makes them better suited for the health of the park’s amphibian population, according to a study published this month.

The paper, published in the journal Biological Conservation, suggests that even though most amphibian populations are shrinking, the influence of beavers on their habitats can decrease the severity of the decline. While the influence isn’t enough to reverse the trend – many amphibians are falling prey to a fungus unrelated to the absence of beavers – they can mitigate it.

In 2002, Blake R. Hossack and six other researchers began studying the distribution of amphibians in Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain national parks. The project was a joint monitoring program with the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service.

Read more . . .

Snowshoeing in Glacier National Park

The Daily Inter Lake has a nice write-up — with video, no less — of a recent ranger-led snowshoe walk in Glacier National Park . . .

When winter shrouds Glacier National Park, snowshoes are a handy mode of transportation into its snowy inner realm.

Despite rain and high winds, 15 people came out for a ranger-led snowshoe walk on Jan. 11, National Winter Trails Day.

“I’m pretty impressed,” park Ranger Terry Peterson told snowshoers as they departed from the Apgar Visitor Center. “This is the best time of the year to explore the park.”

Read more . . .