Matt Guziejka

Well, the opportunity just kind of came up. I was wrapping up my undergrad at Portland State University. Oh yeah, go Vikes. And the dean of graduate studies had an opening in his lab, and he's like, hey, you know, we have this beaver research. Do you want to be a part of it? Fully funded, fully paid. And prior to that, I had absolutely no knowledge of beavers whatsoever.

Well, the opportunity just kind of came up. I was wrapping up my undergrad at Portland State University. Oh yeah, go Vikes. And the dean of graduate studies had an opening in his lab, and he's like, hey, you know, we have this beaver research. Do you want to be a part of it? Fully funded, fully paid. And prior to that, I had absolutely no knowledge of beavers whatsoever.

And I said, yeah, let's fully fund it. Sure, why not? So I took the opportunity and ran with it.

And I said, yeah, let's fully fund it. Sure, why not? So I took the opportunity and ran with it.

Well, I think some interesting things about beavers is they are monogamous, so they just mate for life typically, which is something that is not very common in the animal kingdom. And interestingly enough, there's two different species of beavers. You have the American beaver.

Well, I think some interesting things about beavers is they are monogamous, so they just mate for life typically, which is something that is not very common in the animal kingdom. And interestingly enough, there's two different species of beavers. You have the American beaver.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes. No, it's the same one. Castor canadidensis, which is Canada, canadidensis in that last part. And then you have the European beaver. And the interesting thing about the American beaver, it tends to cheat on its partner more than the European one. Oh, topical. Yeah, yeah.

Yes. No, it's the same one. Castor canadidensis, which is Canada, canadidensis in that last part. And then you have the European beaver. And the interesting thing about the American beaver, it tends to cheat on its partner more than the European one. Oh, topical. Yeah, yeah.

But going to your beef about like beavers and Canada and American beavers versus Canadian beavers, the interesting thing about Oregon, you know, we have the beaver on our state flag. It has Connecticut in its last name, so to speak. So it has that Canadian background. But Oregon, you know, we had beaver on our money in, I think, 1849. And Canada put beaver on their money in like 1920.

But going to your beef about like beavers and Canada and American beavers versus Canadian beavers, the interesting thing about Oregon, you know, we have the beaver on our state flag. It has Connecticut in its last name, so to speak. So it has that Canadian background. But Oregon, you know, we had beaver on our money in, I think, 1849. And Canada put beaver on their money in like 1920.

And then we embraced as a state, we embraced the beaver on the backside of our flag in 1925. So just when the Canadians are putting it on their money, right? And they didn't announce beaver as their national animal until the fucking 70s. So in a way, like Oregon is like the OG Canada, you know what I mean? So if we can get universal healthcare, that would be great.

And then we embraced as a state, we embraced the beaver on the backside of our flag in 1925. So just when the Canadians are putting it on their money, right? And they didn't announce beaver as their national animal until the fucking 70s. So in a way, like Oregon is like the OG Canada, you know what I mean? So if we can get universal healthcare, that would be great.

I feel so incredibly vindicated right now. Yeah, so the beaver on the back of the flag, which is the logo you have on the bottom left corner, that is kind of representing of the minting of the coin that Oregon had back in the fur trading days when there wasn't enough fur to go around. So they started to mint their own money to kind of pass out. And that is what was on the money.

I feel so incredibly vindicated right now. Yeah, so the beaver on the back of the flag, which is the logo you have on the bottom left corner, that is kind of representing of the minting of the coin that Oregon had back in the fur trading days when there wasn't enough fur to go around. So they started to mint their own money to kind of pass out. And that is what was on the money.

Didn't they try and kill a bunch of beavers? Oh, yeah. So, I mean, Oregon has gone back and forth with, you know, beaver issues and culling beavers. And, you know, the whole North America was built on fur trade, and the beavers were the number one hunted species.

Didn't they try and kill a bunch of beavers? Oh, yeah. So, I mean, Oregon has gone back and forth with, you know, beaver issues and culling beavers. And, you know, the whole North America was built on fur trade, and the beavers were the number one hunted species.

product so they were called a lot and then specifically in oregon they were just harvested a lot for their for their pelts and they get made hats out of them that was like high fashion back then kind of like big jeans now but you know have you ever heard of that term mad hatter i've heard of it you've heard it like alice in wonderland the mad hatter we have you know why you know why he was mad

product so they were called a lot and then specifically in oregon they were just harvested a lot for their for their pelts and they get made hats out of them that was like high fashion back then kind of like big jeans now but you know have you ever heard of that term mad hatter i've heard of it you've heard it like alice in wonderland the mad hatter we have you know why you know why he was mad

the mercury from making beaver hats and they'd get the jitters and go crazy and they were called mad hatters.

the mercury from making beaver hats and they'd get the jitters and go crazy and they were called mad hatters.

Yes, they are. And you brought up the point of Beaverton. And the indigenous folks lived in Fano Creek area, if you know where Fano Creek is. That's that bottom left blue dot on the top satellite imagery, that's Fano Creek, and one of my study sites were there. And the indigenous word they used for that area, I can't pronounce it and I won't, I apologize, but that meant Beaver Dam.

Yes, they are. And you brought up the point of Beaverton. And the indigenous folks lived in Fano Creek area, if you know where Fano Creek is. That's that bottom left blue dot on the top satellite imagery, that's Fano Creek, and one of my study sites were there. And the indigenous word they used for that area, I can't pronounce it and I won't, I apologize, but that meant Beaver Dam.

So they called it Beaver Dam, that little town, and then that town got changed to Beaver Town and then to Beaverton. I believe that's the correct order. But some of the blue dots are just some major areas people are seeing beavers that are familiar to us in Portland.

So they called it Beaver Dam, that little town, and then that town got changed to Beaver Town and then to Beaverton. I believe that's the correct order. But some of the blue dots are just some major areas people are seeing beavers that are familiar to us in Portland.

But this little blue dot map on the right hand side, those are like all of the beaver sightings where beavers are being spotted and people are reporting those beaver sightings. So you're having these beavers in these really heavy metropolitan areas. You have them by the airport. You have them by Portland International Raceway. You have them downtown Portland on the waterfront. And it's crazy.

But this little blue dot map on the right hand side, those are like all of the beaver sightings where beavers are being spotted and people are reporting those beaver sightings. So you're having these beavers in these really heavy metropolitan areas. You have them by the airport. You have them by Portland International Raceway. You have them downtown Portland on the waterfront. And it's crazy.

They're downtown. You can be in a skyscraper, binoculars, and you could probably see a fucking beaver swimming around. It's just wild to think about them being in these urban settings because you don't think of them as something there. You see coyotes, deer.

They're downtown. You can be in a skyscraper, binoculars, and you could probably see a fucking beaver swimming around. It's just wild to think about them being in these urban settings because you don't think of them as something there. You see coyotes, deer.

You see these other urban adapted animals, which is called sin urbanization, which is the adaptation of animals living in urban spaces like robins, raccoons, rats, things like that. But the beavers you don't see, so you don't think about them, but they are definitely here, and they're not only in Portland. London, for the first time in 400 years, they had beaver kits, I believe, last year.

You see these other urban adapted animals, which is called sin urbanization, which is the adaptation of animals living in urban spaces like robins, raccoons, rats, things like that. But the beavers you don't see, so you don't think about them, but they are definitely here, and they're not only in Portland. London, for the first time in 400 years, they had beaver kits, I believe, last year.

Northern Italy, Venice, Toronto, New York has beavers. They're in Chicago. If you've heard of the recent one that was spotted in Chicago named after Iva Wells, Iva B. Wells, but Iva Beave Wells they called the beaver, yeah. But that's in, like, proper Chicago. You know, Rob, you would know, so you should go check it out. And what are they doing out there in the city?

Northern Italy, Venice, Toronto, New York has beavers. They're in Chicago. If you've heard of the recent one that was spotted in Chicago named after Iva Wells, Iva B. Wells, but Iva Beave Wells they called the beaver, yeah. But that's in, like, proper Chicago. You know, Rob, you would know, so you should go check it out. And what are they doing out there in the city?

Are they still building dams, or are they, like, confused? Yeah, so, you know, the interesting thing about beavers is not all of them build dams. Only about 10% build dams because... What the fuck?

Are they still building dams, or are they, like, confused? Yeah, so, you know, the interesting thing about beavers is not all of them build dams. Only about 10% build dams because... What the fuck?

90% of them aren't doing... What are they doing? They're chewing down trees. They're eating. They're fucking, you know... They're doing plenty of other things, but they build dams because They don't need to build a dam on a lake. It's deep. There's a large water body. They can live there. They'll build a hut, which is what they live in, or pardon me, a lodge. That's where they live.

90% of them aren't doing... What are they doing? They're chewing down trees. They're eating. They're fucking, you know... They're doing plenty of other things, but they build dams because They don't need to build a dam on a lake. It's deep. There's a large water body. They can live there. They'll build a hut, which is what they live in, or pardon me, a lodge. That's where they live.

They don't live in the dam. So when they're in these spaces that are safe and large, like a huge lake, they don't need to build a dam. It's when they get into these urban areas, especially is when they build more dams because they're on channelized streams. They're on narrow waterways. And what they want to do is they want to back that water up.

They don't live in the dam. So when they're in these spaces that are safe and large, like a huge lake, they don't need to build a dam. It's when they get into these urban areas, especially is when they build more dams because they're on channelized streams. They're on narrow waterways. And what they want to do is they want to back that water up.

fill that area out, make it deep, make it wide so they have better access to vegetation around that and deeper water to be safe.

fill that area out, make it deep, make it wide so they have better access to vegetation around that and deeper water to be safe.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. And that's the difference between like something like an urban beaver or just a beaver and like a raccoon. A raccoon will come and like fuck up your garbage can. But a beaver will chew down the cherry tree your grandfather planted.

Yeah. And that's the difference between like something like an urban beaver or just a beaver and like a raccoon. A raccoon will come and like fuck up your garbage can. But a beaver will chew down the cherry tree your grandfather planted.

You're so... Americans are so sentimental. Well, you know, Portland's a tree city, so we really like our trees, you know. So it has the ability to do way more damage than such a small thing that we're used to here in urban areas. So what do you do if a beaver moves in? If a beaver moves in, there's a couple of things you can do.

You're so... Americans are so sentimental. Well, you know, Portland's a tree city, so we really like our trees, you know. So it has the ability to do way more damage than such a small thing that we're used to here in urban areas. So what do you do if a beaver moves in? If a beaver moves in, there's a couple of things you can do.

Portland, the city of Portland does have like this crazy referral cycle of, do you have a beaver? Yes or no. And then, is your beaver causing damage? Yes. Okay, let me go this way. What kind of damage is it causing? Oh, it's really severe. Okay, let me go this way. And you kind of take this rigmarole rap to come up with the solution.

Portland, the city of Portland does have like this crazy referral cycle of, do you have a beaver? Yes or no. And then, is your beaver causing damage? Yes. Okay, let me go this way. What kind of damage is it causing? Oh, it's really severe. Okay, let me go this way. And you kind of take this rigmarole rap to come up with the solution.

But ultimately, you do have options as a homeowner if you're worried about your house being damaged by a beaver. Fish and wildlife will come out and kill it and trap it. No, we don't want that. I know, honestly, Oregon is pretty behind with the beaver relocation. We don't really have a lot of good beaver relocation programs. Washington State really does a good job.

But ultimately, you do have options as a homeowner if you're worried about your house being damaged by a beaver. Fish and wildlife will come out and kill it and trap it. No, we don't want that. I know, honestly, Oregon is pretty behind with the beaver relocation. We don't really have a lot of good beaver relocation programs. Washington State really does a good job.

But, you know, they don't have a beaver on the flag, so I feel like we're kind of not living up to the beaver hype.

But, you know, they don't have a beaver on the flag, so I feel like we're kind of not living up to the beaver hype.

It's on the back. Or the front, I mean. So the best thing you can do is get a hold of your local, like, Parks and Rec, and they'll probably refer you to someone else, and then they'll probably refer you to someone else, and then they'll probably... Eventually you? And then eventually you get referred just back to your neighbor. LAUGHTER

It's on the back. Or the front, I mean. So the best thing you can do is get a hold of your local, like, Parks and Rec, and they'll probably refer you to someone else, and then they'll probably refer you to someone else, and then they'll probably... Eventually you? And then eventually you get referred just back to your neighbor. LAUGHTER

No, you can't keep pet beavers, no. But the conflict is really hard, and one of the things we looked at in our study is coexistence and how to manage the conflict and how to find a way to say, okay, the beaver's causing flooding, let's put in a pond leveler.

No, you can't keep pet beavers, no. But the conflict is really hard, and one of the things we looked at in our study is coexistence and how to manage the conflict and how to find a way to say, okay, the beaver's causing flooding, let's put in a pond leveler.

So what that does is it lets water flow through part of the dam, but then it keeps the water level at a certain height so the beavers don't hear the water flowing because that bothers them and they want to dam it up so they don't hear the flowing water. So that's an option. There are many, many solutions.

So what that does is it lets water flow through part of the dam, but then it keeps the water level at a certain height so the beavers don't hear the water flowing because that bothers them and they want to dam it up so they don't hear the flowing water. So that's an option. There are many, many solutions.

And out of the research that we did, we found that killing beavers was one of the least supported management strategies out of all 14 strategies. But even less supported was doing nothing. So people want to see action. They want to see something happen, but sometimes you can get caught in this referral loop, and it makes it really hard.

And out of the research that we did, we found that killing beavers was one of the least supported management strategies out of all 14 strategies. But even less supported was doing nothing. So people want to see action. They want to see something happen, but sometimes you can get caught in this referral loop, and it makes it really hard.

So there are different agencies out there that try to end that referral loop. It's very American, isn't it? Yeah. It's an eternal loop. A lot of red tape around beaver management, okay? Yeah. So there's new research coming out. There's new papers coming out about how to manage them in our state, and we are coming up with a new beaver action plan for the state of Oregon. I know. Beaver action plan.

So there are different agencies out there that try to end that referral loop. It's very American, isn't it? Yeah. It's an eternal loop. A lot of red tape around beaver management, okay? Yeah. So there's new research coming out. There's new papers coming out about how to manage them in our state, and we are coming up with a new beaver action plan for the state of Oregon. I know. Beaver action plan.

Yes. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know...

You know...

Seven out of seven is what it means, I think. No, the beavers are generally very well regarded. They have that cute factor, you know, much like other animals, like squirrels are rather cute. But beaver studies have shown that they're just widely accepted just for looking the way that they do. There was a study done in Germany in 2021

Seven out of seven is what it means, I think. No, the beavers are generally very well regarded. They have that cute factor, you know, much like other animals, like squirrels are rather cute. But beaver studies have shown that they're just widely accepted just for looking the way that they do. There was a study done in Germany in 2021

where they did a survey and they talked about urban wildlife and the beaver was the only animal on the list that had few encounters but was preferred by the public. Whereas the other animals on that list that have few encounters are raccoons, possums, rats, and things like that that people don't prefer. So the beaver is kind of this unique animal that's corpuscular.

where they did a survey and they talked about urban wildlife and the beaver was the only animal on the list that had few encounters but was preferred by the public. Whereas the other animals on that list that have few encounters are raccoons, possums, rats, and things like that that people don't prefer. So the beaver is kind of this unique animal that's corpuscular.

which means it's most active dawn and dusk, but it is still active throughout the night, so it does have some nocturnal qualities. But it's not seen unless you go out of your way to see it, but people love beavers.

which means it's most active dawn and dusk, but it is still active throughout the night, so it does have some nocturnal qualities. But it's not seen unless you go out of your way to see it, but people love beavers.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah. So let's go back to the beaver, right? Monogamous, beautiful, raised kits. The babies are called kits if you think of a very small soccer ball, but it's fuzzy. It's so beautiful. And the otter is basically a serial rapist. And I say that with a heavy heart because they are very cute.

Yeah. So let's go back to the beaver, right? Monogamous, beautiful, raised kits. The babies are called kits if you think of a very small soccer ball, but it's fuzzy. It's so beautiful. And the otter is basically a serial rapist. And I say that with a heavy heart because they are very cute.

But the otters will breed and breed and breed and breed so much until basically the female just drowns because she can't take care of herself anymore. And they bite them on the nose. They rip the nose up. It is a brutal, brutal thing. But the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a lot of stock in the otter. So they are trying to keep it looking cute and keep it going. But guess who benefits from beavers?

But the otters will breed and breed and breed and breed so much until basically the female just drowns because she can't take care of herself anymore. And they bite them on the nose. They rip the nose up. It is a brutal, brutal thing. But the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a lot of stock in the otter. So they are trying to keep it looking cute and keep it going. But guess who benefits from beavers?

Oregon. Oregon is not a person, but that's okay. But... But because beavers have the ability to take a weak little stream and make it this powerhouse pond, this huge habitat, otters move into these habitats. And otters use the habitat because they are creating this habitat for birds, fish, food, and wildlife. So the otters benefit from this keystone species. And they are also a keystone species.

Oregon. Oregon is not a person, but that's okay. But... But because beavers have the ability to take a weak little stream and make it this powerhouse pond, this huge habitat, otters move into these habitats. And otters use the habitat because they are creating this habitat for birds, fish, food, and wildlife. So the otters benefit from this keystone species. And they are also a keystone species.

They just don't build houses and lodging and stuff like beavers do. That's the difference between those two cuteness levels. Everything can look cute and you can like it, but when you get to know someone really, then you really know deep down.

They just don't build houses and lodging and stuff like beavers do. That's the difference between those two cuteness levels. Everything can look cute and you can like it, but when you get to know someone really, then you really know deep down.

We could, but I'm not a beaver biologist. I don't know the relationship between platypus and beavers. You know, a beaver is a mammal. A platypus lays an egg and is hairy. I mean, that's all I got. Beautiful. I love it. Okay, next. Can you repeat that question? Yes, she wants to know, beavers versus nutria. Do you know what a nutria is, David? No. Okay, a nutrient kind of looks like a beaver.

We could, but I'm not a beaver biologist. I don't know the relationship between platypus and beavers. You know, a beaver is a mammal. A platypus lays an egg and is hairy. I mean, that's all I got. Beautiful. I love it. Okay, next. Can you repeat that question? Yes, she wants to know, beavers versus nutria. Do you know what a nutria is, David? No. Okay, a nutrient kind of looks like a beaver.

They got the same color teeth, kind of same body shape, but they have a long, very long rat tail. Yeah, they're gross. They're gross.

They got the same color teeth, kind of same body shape, but they have a long, very long rat tail. Yeah, they're gross. They're gross.

Nutria are highly invasive species here in Oregon. But, you know, they're mean. They have a lot of young. They rear a lot compared to beaver. But, you know, Smith and Bybee, which is in North Portland, as we know by the airport, they have nutria and beavers there. And there is visual evidence, oral evidence, of nutria actually collaborating with beavers to put a dam together. So... Yeah!

Nutria are highly invasive species here in Oregon. But, you know, they're mean. They have a lot of young. They rear a lot compared to beaver. But, you know, Smith and Bybee, which is in North Portland, as we know by the airport, they have nutria and beavers there. And there is visual evidence, oral evidence, of nutria actually collaborating with beavers to put a dam together. So... Yeah!

There's a little... We can come together. Yeah, we can.

There's a little... We can come together. Yeah, we can.

What the fuck are you talking about? Yeah, but... But that's the main difference between those two. They're not the same, and one's invasive, and you can trap, kill, and eat the other one. Yeah.

What the fuck are you talking about? Yeah, but... But that's the main difference between those two. They're not the same, and one's invasive, and you can trap, kill, and eat the other one. Yeah.

So, castor, cananodensis, castor, castor oil, we're all familiar with that. And, you know, there's shit floating around that. There's the anus, which is the butthole for any scientific people. It doesn't come from the anus. It has glands on the outside of the anus that secretes this musk that is kind of vanilla-y in scent, deep leathery.

So, castor, cananodensis, castor, castor oil, we're all familiar with that. And, you know, there's shit floating around that. There's the anus, which is the butthole for any scientific people. It doesn't come from the anus. It has glands on the outside of the anus that secretes this musk that is kind of vanilla-y in scent, deep leathery.

And it used to be used to do some natural flavoring in foods. Now they make it synthetically to do that, so they don't have to do that. Do they? Yeah, I hope so. But what it still gets used for is it gets put into, I think, a certain kind of whiskey now.

And it used to be used to do some natural flavoring in foods. Now they make it synthetically to do that, so they don't have to do that. Do they? Yeah, I hope so. But what it still gets used for is it gets put into, I think, a certain kind of whiskey now.

And also it gets put even back in the day it was used for perfumes and stuff and it's still used for perfumes to this day and some of it is synthetic and some of it is not synthetic so it still is something that that is used in, you know, if you want to smell it. And you live in a city you're in luck. Okay, they make scent mounds during the mating season. You can go find one.

And also it gets put even back in the day it was used for perfumes and stuff and it's still used for perfumes to this day and some of it is synthetic and some of it is not synthetic so it still is something that that is used in, you know, if you want to smell it. And you live in a city you're in luck. Okay, they make scent mounds during the mating season. You can go find one.

Sorry, a scent mound?

Sorry, a scent mound?

A little mound, and you can just go... Give a little sniff, and you'll see if you like it or not. It's not that bad.

A little mound, and you can just go... Give a little sniff, and you'll see if you like it or not. It's not that bad.

It seems like a lot. Yeah, it seems like a lot.

It seems like a lot. Yeah, it seems like a lot.

Black bear or black berry? Black bears.

Black bear or black berry? Black bears.