By Andrew Berry
With more than 90 miles of streams and nearly 100 wetlands, Bernheim is committed to protecting beavers and bottomland forests they rely on. Bernheim’s aquatic habitats provide the basic foundations for life and support healthy watersheds downstream. Through both active and passive management we work to slow streams and recharge groundwater. Slowing runoff helps retain organic material, carbon, and nutrients in the soil of bottomlands. Beavers help facilitate ecological processes that support climate resiliency. Beavers are ecosystem engineers that work by the moonlight and invite other wildlife such as river otters, wood ducks, bats, turtles, shorebirds, insects, and salamanders into their habitats.
Beavers are one of many species Bernheim has worked to recover and promote. They were hunted extensively for the fur trade in Kentucky as early as the 17th century. Populations plummeted over the next three centuries due to trapping and loss of stream and valley habitat. Most beaver wetlands were cleared for agricultural use, streams were straightened, and ancient organic material was tilled by early settlers. Beavers were no longer able to anchor strong dams in the swift currents, find suitable trees for food and building materials, or build strong family groups.
For many decades, beavers hung on as ‘bank beavers,’ living in secret dens carved out in stream banks and accessed below water level. Reduced to traveling waterways at night in search of hidden feeding locations, beavers did not become noticed in Kentucky and Bernheim until the 21st century.
In recent years, beaver populations have expanded into every major stream in Kentucky. Bernheim began promoting beavers as early as 2008, and wetlands soon became recharged into beaver ponds as the population recovered and eventually moved into the Wilson Creek Stream Restoration area. They used sticks, mud, and rocks to build dams while patching leaky crawdad holes and creating gaps in the canopy. Milkweed and pollinator species flourished in the openings. Water and organic material retention increased and spread across the valley. Other important wildlife species were flourishing too.
In 2022 Environmental Artist in Residence Carla Rhodes and staff documented the biodiversity of our beaver habitats. Remote cameras captured images of beavers, otters, bitterns, bobcats, and other species coinhabiting on these wetlands. The richness provided by these wild areas allows unique species to flourish in Bernheim where prey options are found throughout the year.
Hike the Forest Giants Trail to see an active beaver wetland complex. Along the Lake Nevin boardwalk, you’ll find evidence of beaver activity and encounter shorebirds, turtles, and other wildlife. Participate in guided nature programs or visit discovery stations to learn more. Thanks to all the beaver believers for ‘giving a dam’ about this magnificent keystone species and supporting Bernheim’s efforts to protect water and wildlife.
Originally featured in our Summer 2024 issue of the Forest Echo newsletter, Volume 33, No. 3.
