In 1948, Beavers Parachuted Out of Airplanes Over Idaho — and the Forest Still Shows It
When beavers and people got in each other's way
After World War II, Idaho's growing towns and farms kept running into the same problem: beavers. Their dams flooded roads and fields, but wildlife officials didn't want to kill the animals — they wanted to move them somewhere they could do good instead of harm.
Mules couldn't handle the trip
The obvious plan was to crate up the beavers and haul them into the backcountry on pack mules. It didn't work well. The trip was long and hot, and many beavers arrived exhausted or worse. Wildlife managers needed a faster, gentler way to get them deep into the wilderness.
Dropped from the sky in a box
Their solution was to load beavers into wooden crates fitted with cargo parachutes and drop them from airplanes over Idaho's remote backcountry. The crates were designed to pop open automatically on landing, letting the beavers walk free. Film footage from the era shows the boxes drifting down over the trees.
Engineers of the forest, decades later
According to Idaho Fish and Game, the relocated beavers settled in and kept breeding for generations. Their dams still hold back water, build wetlands, and create shelter for other wildlife — even acting as natural firebreaks. An oddball airdrop program from nearly 80 years ago continues to shape the wilderness of Idaho today.
How Idaho Moved Its Beavers by Airplane
📰 Full story: In 1948, Beavers Parachuted Out of Airplanes Over Idaho — and the Forest Still Shows It
In 1948, Idaho sent beavers into the wilderness by plane and parachute.
💡 The gist
- In 1948, Idaho moved beavers out of towns and into the wild backcountry
- Walking them in by mule was too slow and hard on the beavers
- So officials dropped them from planes by parachute instead — and it worked
Right after World War II, Idaho towns had a beaver problem. Beavers build dams, and those dams flooded farms and roads. Wildlife officials didn't want to hurt the beavers. They wanted to send them somewhere far from people instead.
At first, workers packed beavers into crates and carried them on mules over mountain trails. The trips were long and hot. Many beavers got too tired or sick along the way. The team needed a faster plan.
So they tried something bold. They put each beaver in a wooden box with a parachute attached. Planes dropped the boxes over wild, empty land. When a box hit the ground, it popped open by itself, and the beaver climbed out.
The plan worked. Most beavers survived the drop and made new homes in the wilderness. They built dams, raised families, and spread across the land. Today, nearly 80 years later, their dams still shape rivers, wetlands, and forests all over Idaho.
The Beavers Who Fell From the Sky
📰 Full story: In 1948, Beavers Parachuted Out of Airplanes Over Idaho — and the Forest Still Shows It
Long ago, beavers floated down from airplanes.
Once upon a time, in Idaho, there were too many beavers. Beavers love building dams. Their dams made farms all wet and muddy. People wanted to help the beavers move away. But the mountains were far and hard to walk. So they used airplanes instead. They put beavers inside wooden boxes. Each box had a parachute on top. Planes dropped the boxes from way up high. The parachutes opened up like umbrellas. The boxes landed softly on the ground. Then the boxes popped open all by themselves. Out hopped happy, safe beavers. They built new homes in the forest. They had lots of baby beavers. Beavers still live there today.