Beavers are Back! With a Little Help from their Friends

After decades of near-absence in much of Rocky Mountain National Park, beaver are reclaiming their key role in the ecology of the park’s streams.
In this course, we'll discuss the return of beavers to RMNP, as well as beaver ecology and the interrelationships with elk, moose, birds, and fish. We will also discuss what we might expect in the future as gray wolves are restored to Colorado. Participants should plan to spend the day outdoors and will encounter marshy areas and shallow water while visiting beaver ponds. Be prepared to “wade wet” or bring waterproof boots for the time in the field.

Who: Participants ages 16 and up.

Program level: Moderate – These programs are most appropriate for those with some hiking experience. Expect to travel 1 to 2 miles over the course of the program and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating maintained trails, unmaintained meadows, and marshy areas. Prior experience hiking or walking above 8,000 feet is recommended.

This program has a classroom session and a field session.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, and travel together to various locations within RMNP in Conservancy vehicles. All required fees and permits for park entry are included in your registration.

What to Bring:

• 10 Essentials for Field Institute Courses.
• Closed-toe shoes for walking through wet, marshy areas and a second pair to change into afterwards.

About Your Instructor: Gary Miller retired from Rocky Mountain National Park in 2013 after working as both a naturalist/interpreter and as a biologist during the early years of the Elk-Vegetation Management implementation. Prior to that, he held positions with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife) including wildlife researcher, research leader and statewide ecologist. During that time, he conducted or oversaw research and management of both game and nongame species, including their ecology, population dynamics, diseases, and restoration of native species.

Refund Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

Conservancy members get 10% off individual registration when you use the discount code in your membership email! Limit 2 per membership.

Not a member of the Conservancy? Learn more and join here:

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at [email protected] or by phone at 970-586-3262.

Host or Publisher Rocky Mountain Conservancy Education Team