Volunteer with Methow Beaver Project
Are you interested in participating in a local conservation project that will enhance resilience of the Methow River watershed, benefit fish and wildlife, improve water quality, and attenuate climate change? You can do all that and more by joining the MBP Volunteer Beaver Naturalist Program. This is a great opportunity to be involved in a local conservation effort while spending time around adorable and charismatic, large semi-aquatic rodents.
Volunteers are an essential component to MBP's success as they provide husbandry care for beavers at the hatchery. In addition, volunteers are welcome to join crew members in the field collecting data, monitoring post release sites, building post assisted log structures, assisting with public events, and participating in beaver releases. Or, if you have expertise in a particular area and would like to volunteer those skills, we would love to hear from you.
There are two required trainings in early spring.
Beavers 101 is a classroom session in which volunteers learn about beaver biology, ecology, the mission and vision of MBP, and interpretations techniques for interacting with hatchery or public event guests.
The second session takes place at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, as this is where we house our beavers in transition. During this session volunteers learn the ins and outs of beaver husbandry, our data recording methodology, and safety protocols.
There are no minimum volunteer days or hours per month. Utilizing our online calendar volunteer’s self-select their volunteer days. This opportunity is open to non-valley residents as well, just need to commit to being in the valley on your shift days.
Volunteer Beaver Naturalist program requirements are:
• Passionate about wildlife, especially beavers
• Able to climb into and out of 4 feet deep concrete fish raceways
• Lift and carry 25 lbs
• Over the age of 12
• Dependable and reliable