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In 1948, Idaho faced a beaver problem: too many furry engineers were wreaking havoc in lowland towns. Enter Elmo Heter and his genius (and slightly crazy) solution: parachute 76 beavers into the remote wilderness. With WWII parachutes, specially designed crates, and a very patient test beaver named Geronimo, the animals were airlifted to the Chamberlain Basin, where they thrived. This zany experiment became an Idaho icon, showcasing creativity in wildlife management and leaving a lasting legacy on the ecosystem—and our imaginations.
Episode Sources:
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article282932703.html
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/25/in-1948-the-idaho-wilderness-needed-beavers-so-they-parachuted-them-in/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/running-ponies/why-76-beavers-were-forced-to-skydive-into-the-idaho-wilderness-in-1948/
https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2015-01-14/parachuting-beavers-into-idahos-wilderness-yes-it-really-happened
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/beaver-drop-idaho-1948
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver_drop
By Mysterious Pacific Northwest4.8
2222 ratings
In 1948, Idaho faced a beaver problem: too many furry engineers were wreaking havoc in lowland towns. Enter Elmo Heter and his genius (and slightly crazy) solution: parachute 76 beavers into the remote wilderness. With WWII parachutes, specially designed crates, and a very patient test beaver named Geronimo, the animals were airlifted to the Chamberlain Basin, where they thrived. This zany experiment became an Idaho icon, showcasing creativity in wildlife management and leaving a lasting legacy on the ecosystem—and our imaginations.
Episode Sources:
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article282932703.html
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/25/in-1948-the-idaho-wilderness-needed-beavers-so-they-parachuted-them-in/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/running-ponies/why-76-beavers-were-forced-to-skydive-into-the-idaho-wilderness-in-1948/
https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2015-01-14/parachuting-beavers-into-idahos-wilderness-yes-it-really-happened
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/beaver-drop-idaho-1948
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver_drop

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