Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy

CPW is developing a Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy. The draft strategy feedback period closed on December 17, 2025. Thank you for sharing your input. CPW staff and consultants are now refining the strategy based on internal and external feedback. The final Beaver Strategy is expected to be published in February 2026.

Background and Purpose

Beavers occupy a broad range across North America, including Colorado. Today, a major wildlife conservation movement is emerging to prioritize the ecosystem benefits from this species and increase occupation in appropriate habitats. As Colorado’s wildlife management agency, CPW has managed beavers for decades, and staff, stakeholders, and the public have increasingly called for a more proactive and coordinated approach.

The purpose of the Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy (BCMS, or the ‘Beaver Strategy’) is to increase and sustain the prevalence of beaver and beaver-influenced wetlands in suitable habitats for the benefit of Colorado’s stream and wetland ecosystems and the array of wildlife species that utilize them.

Strategy Overview

The Beaver Strategy provides a framework for greater leadership, coordination, and resources to support beaver conservation and management in Colorado. The Beaver Strategy is intended as a higher-level foundational document for beaver management, articulating major goals, needs, and recommended actions.

Key topics include:

• Population and Habitat Status and Monitoring

• Beaver Harvest Management

• Beaver Restoration Opportunities

• Living with Beaver: Nonlethal Conflict Resolution

• Translocation Policy and Protocol

What is Happening Now?

The draft Beaver Strategy feedback period closed on December 17, 2025. CPW staff and consultants are now refining the strategy based on internal and external feedback. CPW staff will provide an informational presentation on the Beaver Strategy to the Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC) during the January 14-15, 2026 PWC meeting. The PWC Beaver Strategy presentation will be informational only and no formal action will be taken. The final Beaver Strategy is expected to be published in February 2026.