In the spring of 1948, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game confronted a unique wildlife challenge. Following World War II, the town of McCall experienced rapid expansion, which began to encroach on the natural habitats of local beaver populations. Rather than retreating, the beavers started to chew down ornamental trees and caused flooding in the newly developed residential areas.
Relocation appeared to be the most viable solution, yet the protected lands designated as the Idaho Primitive Area—now known as the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness—were inaccessible by traditional means such as roads or even mule trails. Facing this logistical hurdle, wildlife officer Elmo Heter proposed an unconventional method: utilizing surplus military parachutes from the war to air-drop the beavers into remote wilderness areas.
A test beaver named Geronimo and some wooden boxes
Before deploying the idea on a large scale, Heter engineered specialized wooden crates designed to secure the animals safely during descent. These boxes were fastened with elastic bands and crafted to stay firmly closed under the tension exerted by the parachute’s pull, automatically unlocking only upon landing. The initial trial involved a single test beaver, nicknamed Geronimo, who was successfully parachuted into the wilderness to evaluate the viability of the method.
This pioneering effort resulted in the aerial release of 76 beavers over the course of the operation, marking one of the most creative wildlife relocation projects in American conservation history. Over eight decades later, these industrious rodents, often called “ecological engineers,” have played a significant role in revitalizing the habitats throughout the state, contributing to the balance and restoration of Idaho’s natural ecosystems.