The results of a first-of-its-kind aerial survey of beaver dams in New Mexico, released this week, reveal a stark contrast between the northern and southern parts of the state.
A large share of those dams are located on private land 鈥� underscoring the role of landowners in habitat conservation.
Researchers from Utah State University, hired by the conservation group , across more than 13,000 miles of New Mexico鈥檚 perennial 鈥� or year-round 鈥� streams in 2020.
鈥淭he first surprise was how few beaver dams we had in southern New Mexico, specifically the Gila and the Sacramentos,鈥� said Peggy Darr, lead of the Defenders of Wildlife project. 鈥淎nd we don't know the exact cause.鈥�
Darr said there are a couple of reasons why this might be 鈥� such as cattle and elk overgrazing or worsening drought conditions. But that鈥檚 not all that surprised her.
鈥淭here were more beaver dams on private land than on public land, which some of us weren't expecting,鈥� Darr said.
The survey found over half of the observed statewide dams are in just 3 northern watersheds: the Upper Rio Grande, Rio Chama, and Cimarron.
Darr told 九色网 it鈥檚 difficult to speculate on why beavers favor private land, though she stresses that collaboration between the state, conservationists, and private landowners is important to keep New Mexico鈥檚 beaver population healthy.
That could include fencing off trees and vegetation to prevent beavers from gnawing them, or building 鈥渇low devices鈥� to control a beaver pond鈥檚 water level and prevent unwanted flooding of nearby crop fields or housing.
鈥淭hat allows the beavers to still flourish and be safe,鈥� Darr said.
While the survey provides a very rough estimate of the state鈥檚 population, beavers tend to live in small groups 鈥� which makes it nearly impossible to survey accurately. The census also doesn鈥檛 account for burrowing 鈥渂ank鈥� beavers that don鈥檛 build dams in large rivers, like those found along southern parts of the Rio Grande.
In fact, beavers are increasingly hailed as ecological superheros. Their dams help raise water tables by acting like a sponge during rainy periods. Similarly, they reduce wildfire risk and help prevent flash flood damage by slowing the movement of water across the landscape.
Beaver ponds also promote the growth of a special type of bacteria that .
These potential ecological benefits of the beaver aren鈥檛 going unnoticed. During this year鈥檚 legislative session, lawmakers set aside $1.5 million specifically for conserving and restoring beaver habitat.
New Mexico labels the beaver as a 鈥�species of greatest conservation need鈥� because it has an overwhelming positive effect on the state鈥檚 growing list of endangered and imperiled species.
