Ode to the Beaver Believer

Written by Joseph Vaile on July 3rd, 2023

When I first heard that my friend Diarmuid McGuire was sick, I called him right up. I could tell it was serious, but I knew he would tell me his status. Maybe I could offer him some comfort or at least a distraction. The prognosis was not good. My heart sank for him and his family. I knew his next words were not going to be about his struggles. Rather, he was going to have some marching orders for me. He had priorities, and they were not selfish. He wanted to make the world a better place.

Diarmuid was the kind of guy that you would see in the grocery store parking lot and lose track of time. You would spend 45 minutes discussing science, politics, and the general state of the world. The impromptu meeting would end only after we made a plan of action. He had big ideas and he thought through how to make them work. Activism was in his blood, and he was constantly working to right wrongs.

From left to right: Diarmuid McGuire, Michael Dotson, Ron Roth

Diarmuid took part in several significant conservation projects over the years, including the expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, the recovery of the gray wolf, and nearly all regional climate campaigns. His real passion in recent years was the protection of beaver (Castor canadensis) in Oregon. He recognized the importance of the beaver and wanted to change Oregon’s outdated policy that allowed nearly unregulated beaver trapping, hunting, and persecution.

Beavers are "ecosystem engineers." They modify their habitat by building small dams across streams and create wetlands, which help to conserve water. Unlike large concrete dams, these beaver dams create complex wetland ecosystems that provide habitat for a range of species. Beaver ponds and wetlands act as natural filters, trapping sediments and pollutants carried by runoff. They also help prevent floods and lead to climate change resilience by promoting water retention in the landscape.

Animal and conservation activists in Oregon had attempted to protect the beaver over the years. Legislation in Oregon failed on the grounds that beaver conservation would harm farmers and other land managers that would be forced to accept with beaver dam impacts on their properties. None of the proposed accommodations such as beaver relocation, assistance in making areas less attractive to beaver, or allowance for beaver take (kill) were enough to sway naysayers. Oregon, known as the beaver state, continued to have some of the most anti-beaver regulations.

That is how things were going to remain. There was little interest in attempting another beaver bill in the 2023 Oregon legislative session. We tried, we failed. Nonetheless, Representative Pam Marsh (D-Ashland), re-introduced a bill to change the status of beaver and update management policy.

In early February, Diarmuid passed away.

I watched all the hearings. Never once did Pam raise the issue that her husband passed away. I never heard her express his wishes to pass a beaver bill. She continues to be the consummate professional in representing her district. Yet, she patiently worked across the aisle and advanced the bill, even gaining some Republican support in an extremely partisan environment. Outside the legislature, Dr. Sristi Kamal from the Western Environmental Law Center did not listen to the naysayers either. She developed a broad statewide coalition, including KS Wild, to get beaver legislation across the finish line. And with her leadership, the coalition did just that!

The beaver bill passed and this ends the unregulated killing of beaver and allows the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to become the primary agency to manage beavers in the state. In addition, ODFW is now enabled to begin collecting data on beavers as the state has little data on beaver populations. ODFW is also enabled to promote non-lethal beaver management to prevent beaver trapping and killing.

One thing you learn in legislative campaigns is that it takes many people to get legislation done — people to testify, people to work in front of the cameras, and people to work behind the scenes. Diarmuid was never one to rest on his laurels. While we are all celebrating, he would have thought ahead and hatched a plan for what is next.

Diarmuid's legacy lives on through this achievement. His vision will inspire others to take action. As we reflect on his legacy, let’s think about ways to further support beaver conservation. Let’s leave a lasting impact for future generations, just as he would have wanted.