Alexa Whipple from the Methow Beaver Project trains local biologists on trapping techniques on the Klickitat River.
The Wishpush is the Yakama word for beaver, which is a culturally important species for the people of the Yakama Nation. Beavers are an integral part of the landscape and critical to healthy watersheds. Beavers and their activities are recognized as a potential asset in building resilience to climate change and wildfire, and providing benefits to ESA-listed salmon and steelhead species, and a variety of other threatened, sensitive or culturally important species of plants and animals. Historic trapping greatly reduced beaver abundance. Beaver populations in the Wind, White Salmon, Klickitat and Rock Creek watersheds are extremely low.
Public presentation in White Salmon on the benefits of beavers on watersheds and habitat.
The Working Group
The mission of the Wishpush Working Group is to support and promote sustainable populations of beavers for a host of ecological benefits, leading to healthier and more resilient watersheds for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and human communities. The effort is a collaboration of multiple organizations working in the Columbia tributaries south of Mt. Adams.
The Wishpush Working Group:
- Provides assistance to landowners to reduce conflicts with beavers and encourage peaceful coexistence.
- Relocates beavers in situations where they are at risk of lethal removal to areas where their work benefits habitat and hydrology.
- Implements projects that increase habitat suitability for beavers, such as riparian revegetation and installing wood structures that beavers can use as a foundation for their work.
- Increase awareness and tolerance of beavers and their activities that create habitat and store water.
The Wishpush Working Group seeks to restore and retain populations of this iconic mammal. The core of the working group is Yakama Nation, Mid-Columbia Fisheries, Mt. Adams Resource Stewards, and Underwood Conservation District. This core group has been working together since 2018 to learn about and respond to needs and opportunities for enhancing beaver and their activities in the area. The group also coordinates information, activities, and trainings with many other agencies, land managers, non-profits, and beaver collaboratives.
For more information, or to contact the Wishpush Working Group, email [email protected].
