Stewardship Walk & Talk: Beaver Hike
Saturday, September 23, 7:30-9:30 am
Fee: Included in regular KNC admission  |  Audience: All ages
Meet: Market Barn, 357 W E Avenue 

Head out on an early morning hike with KNC Stewardship Director, Ryan Koziatek, to learn how KNC is choosing to live with beavers on the landscape. In late spring of 2023, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources moved the beaver (Castor canadensis) to the nuisance wildlife list, allowing for more options for landowners to mitigate any conflicts the presence of beavers may be causing. This nuisance designation typically means that populations of a wildlife species are such that they will not be significantly impacted by not needing a permit for trapping or hunting.  

Over the last several years, we have seen the increase of the beaver population along KNC’s river frontage and even along our streams. KNC is home to a great diversity of wildlife and understand that beavers are a keystone species that have helped shape the evolution of species and created a shifting mosaic of habitats. In order to keep beavers serving their natural role at KNC, we recently had to install a beaver deceiver to prevent blockage at some of the infrastructure along the stream at the Source Pond.  

You are invited to walk and talk with KNC Stewardship Director, Ryan Koziatek, to learn how KNC is choosing to live with beavers on the landscape. Ryan will lead hikes on Thursday, September 7 and Saturday, September 23 from 7:30 – 9:30 am beginning and ending at KNC’s Market Barn, 357 W. E Avenue. The hike will be about 2 miles and will visit both locations of the beaver deceivers. With a hike this early, we hope to have a good chance at seeing a beaver in action!