Beaversare nature ’s engineers . The large rodentsbuild damsacross rivers , produce wetland and swamps and foster goodly ecosystems for otheranimalsand plant . But when they get too close and too comfortable with cities — or when wildlife official want to prevent them from flood low - lie areas — beavers have been transport to more correctable habitat .
Over the years , Idaho Fish and Game has tried its better to keep beavers safely away from the con and bustle . To this end , the agency has try out with a number of unlike tactics — but one idea from 1948 really , uh , jumps out .
Back then , Idaho Fish and Game employeeElmo Heterdecided that the good place for these beavers would be a distant domain called Chamberlain Basin ( now part of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area ) . The habitat would have all the amenities the Beaver call for , and would be far forth from human activity . Unfortunately , because of its remote location , there were no roads to get there .
The only coherent resolution ? Planes .
Apparently , buck and mule were easily spooked by the beavers — the gnawer ’ ceaseless bowel movement and pungent olfactory modality unnerved the ring animals . So Heter make up one’s mind to essay flying the beavers in . This was correct afterWorld War IIand there was a excess of parachutes , so the proposed plan re - purposed supplying that would otherwise sit around in storage .
With the help of trial beaver Geronimo , Heter create a special wooden corner that opened on impact . In sum , 76 beavers were dropped in Chamberlain Basin , with all but one surviving . They go on to live fruitful , busy lives in their remote new base .
The story of the furred skydiver may sound too silly to be true , but there is video evidence . Fish and Game historiographer Sharon Clark found the forget footage , and thanks to the magic of the internet , we can all savour it today .
A version of this story was published in 2015 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
