Cutter Grathwohl

Round 2 at the .707 aka 893

In 1948, 76 beavers were parachuted into the Idaho wilderness as part of a relocation program by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The program was initiated to address the growing conflict between humans and beavers in areas where people were building homes, such as Payette Lake. The beavers' natural activities, like dam building and tree cutting, were causing problems for the new residents. The relocation site, Chamberlain Basin, was chosen because it was a remote and suitable location for the beavers to thrive. However, the area was difficult to access due to the lack of roads. The solution was to use surplus parachutes from World War II to drop the beavers into their new home. A specially designed crate was created to ensure the safety of the beavers during the drop. After several test drops with a beaver named Geronimo, the project was deemed successful and continued until 1948. As a result, the beavers transformed the landscape into a lush wetland, creating a haven against fire and drought. Their descendants now live in what is part of the largest protected roadless forest in the continental United States.