BeaverCorps Wetland Professional Training (Nonbusiness)

 

BeaverCorps Members work w/ National Forest Foundation Staff

The Beaver Institute is proud to offer the first and only professional, non-lethal beaver management course. The online classes and fieldwork are personally mentored by Beaver Institute President Mike Callahan and other Beaver Institute instructors. All students learn the same successful, innovative beaver management techniques that he has successfully used since 1998 to resolve over 2,000 beaver-human conflicts, as well as low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) techniques to restore streams and beaver wetlands.

This training has been formulated to suit individuals who are employed by an organization, agency, or other nonbusiness field that is interested in providing beaver management solutions to their constituents. Just like our original training program, graduates are certified as Beaver Wetland Professionals and utilize their knowledge in various settings. 

 

Training Where You Live

Our BeaverCorps Professional Training Program is designed to be done remotely without the need for expensive and time-consuming travel to our location. You can learn where you live! The course is self-paced to fit your life and schedule.

Part 1 of the Training Program consists of online lessons and exams, takes 40 – 60 hours, and is generally completed in 6 weeks.
Part 2 of the Program consists of four project installations that you do while being mentored 1:1 by experienced Beaver Institute staff.
The entire training course typically takes 12 months to complete.

Part One: Online Lessons and Exams

Part One is a series of online lessons and exams. Each student will learn about beaver behavior and ecology, how to build and install successful water control devices to resolve beaver dam flooding problems, as well as basic LTPBR techniques to restore streams and beaver wetlands. The use of trapping, permitting requirements, funding, and partnerships are also covered.

Part Two: Real-Life Projects

In Part Two of the program each trainee applies this knowledge to 4 real-life beaver projects. Each student plans and installs four water control devices or LTPBR projects while receiving extensive 1:1 mentoring with Mike Callahan and other Beaver Institute instructors. By the end of the program each graduate has the basic skills required to begin to professionally manage human-beaver conflicts.

BeaverCorps members are geographically dispersed across North America, yet we have created a supportive professional community. The BeaverCorps has a free, online platform where graduates and trainees share ideas, ask questions, offer support, and learn from each other’s experiences. We also record our monthly Zoom meetings where we discuss topics of interest, and learn from guest speakers.

Please contact Program Director Aaron Hall (aaron@beaverinstittue.org) for more information.

 

Course Information

Difficulty: Beginner

Categories: ,

Course Instructors

Mike Callahan Mike Callahan President
Aaron Hall Aaron Hall Program Director
Loren Taylor Loren Taylor Program Manager

Unit 1 – Introduction to Beaver Conflicts and Job Saftey

Beaver Basics: History, Biology, Behavior, Benefits
1
Job Safety 
1
Tree Protection Techniques 
1
Beaver Dam Conflicts 
1
Breaching Dams and Opening Culverts 
2
Unit 1 Quiz – Introduction to Beaver Conflicts and Job Safety 
0

Unit 2 – Beaver Conflict Resolution Techniques 

Flow Devices: Culvert Fences
2
Flow Devices: Pond Leveler Pipes
1
Flow Devices: Fence and Pipe Device
2
Flow Devices: Dam Spillway and Retention Pond Devices
1
Flow Devices: Multi-Intake Pond Leveler
1
Flow Devices: Beaver Mimicry Dams and Fences
1
Unit 2 Quiz- Beaver Conflict Resolution Techniques
0

Unit 3 – Beaver Habitat Restoration 

Process-based Restoration Overview 
2
Unit 3 Quiz – Process-Based Restoration
0

Unit 4 – Site Assessment and Data Collection 

Introduction to Site Assessments 
0
Site Assessment Basics
0
Initial Contact
0
Pricing
0
Data Collection
0
Downstream Considerations
0
Additional Considerations
0
Analysis and Proposal
0
When to Trap
0
Cost Estimate
0
Pipe Sizing and Lessons Learned 
2
Unit 4 Quiz: Site Assessment and Data Collection
0

Unit 5 – Regulations and Adaptive Management

Flow Device Replacement
1
Recommened Tools and Materials 
1
Wildlife Passage Design 
1
Beaver Trapping 
1
Wetland Permitting 
0
Unit 5 Quiz: Regulations and Adaptive Management
0

Unit 6 – Partnerships and Funding 

Public Outreach 
0
Partnerships and Funding
1
Unit 6 Quiz – Partnerships and Funding
0

Final Exam

BeaverCorps Nonbusiness Final Exam
0