In 1948, Idaho faced a beaver problem: too many furry engineers were wreaking havoc in lowland towns. Enter Elmo Heter and his genius (and slightly crazy) solution: parachute 76 beavers into the remote wilderness. With WWII parachutes, specially designed crates, and a very patient test beaver named Geronimo, the animals were airlifted to the Chamberlain Basin, where they thrived. This zany experiment became an Idaho icon, showcasing creativity in wildlife management and leaving a lasting legacy on the ecosystem—and our imaginations.

Episode Sources:

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article282932703.html

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/25/in-1948-the-idaho-wilderness-needed-beavers-so-they-parachuted-them-in/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/running-ponies/why-76-beavers-were-forced-to-skydive-into-the-idaho-wilderness-in-1948/

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2015-01-14/parachuting-beavers-into-idahos-wilderness-yes-it-really-happened

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/beaver-drop-idaho-1948

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver_drop

Bonus: When Beavers Took Flight -Idaho’s 1948 Skydiving Experiment