Clad in waders and staff in hand, Conrad Ely trudged through the icy Carlson Creek, a stream meandering under mossy Douglas firs and cedar in a remote section of Tillamook State Forest. Ely, a state beaver biologist, scanned the water for gnawed-off branches, poked at bunched up leaves and shone his flashlight under trees overhanging the riverbank. Ely’s effort is part of a first-of-its kind survey of beavers and their activity, with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife collecting data throughout the state to understand where and how the animals live. The surveys underlie a new plan to protect and restore beaver habitat in Oregon, though its success is yet unknown as wildlife officials work to change the narrative about the animals and how they should be treated. Click the link in our bio to read the full story by The Oregonian reporter Gosia Wozniacka. #oregonbeavers #beaversoregon #nutria #beavers #OregonBeaverResearch ##OregonBeaverWatch