Cowlitz Indian Tribe Successfully Relocates “Kit Cam” Beaver Family

Ridgefield, WA — The Cowlitz Indian Tribe announced the successful release and relocation of the beaver family featured on the Tribe’s widely viewed “Kit Cam” livestream.

 

Over the past several weeks, thousands of viewers have followed four young beavers (known as “kits”) born on April 16, 2026, and their mother as they prepared for release through the Tribe’s beaver relocation program, the largest of its kind in Washington State and one of the largest in the Western United States.

 

The beaver family was relocated on May 28 to a carefully selected wild habitat identified by tribal biologists as suitable for long-term beaver success, where they will now begin establishing a home.

 

“The response to the Kit Cam has been incredibly meaningful,” said Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman Bill Iyall. “We are grateful for the opportunity the Kit Cam created to bring a little joy into homes across the country, while shining a light on the restoration work our Natural Resources Department is leading to steward our ancestral homelands.”

 

The Kit Cam livestream offered a rare opportunity to observe the early development of young beavers. As a foundation species, beavers help restore wetlands, improve water quality, increase drought resilience, and create habitat for fish and wildlife.

 

Following the release, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Department will conduct post-release monitoring to better understand relocation success and habitat outcomes. This site will be monitored twice a year along with other beaver relocation sites across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest where the Tribe’s Wildlife Program will collect data to determine beaver occupancy, home range characteristics, and resulting beaver dam characteristics. This monitoring data is crucial for determining factors that lead to relocation success, developing a better understanding of how beavers are fostering diverse and resilient habitat, and will provide a more comprehensive understanding of beaver populations in Washington’s Cascade Mountains.

 

“We’ve carefully selected this relocation site to provide plenty of food and cover for these beavers as they reintegrate into the wild and continue to grow,” said Jesse Burgher, Wildlife Program Manager. “After the release, this site will be integrated into our annual monitoring plan, and we’ve added some additional monitoring components for this family, including wildlife cameras at prominent habitat features at the site so we can better track the success of these individuals.”

 

By relocating beavers into suitable environments, the Tribe is helping restore natural ecosystem processes while providing a practical solution that benefits both wildlife and communities. Following the success of the Kit Cam, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is exploring additional opportunities to share the work of its Wildlife Program and help connect the public with the important restoration and conservation efforts taking place across Tribal lands.

 

Photo and video assets of the release can be found here with courtesy credit to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

 

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a sovereign nation located in Southwest Washington in the Columbia River Basin, governed by an elected Tribal Council. The Tribe focuses its efforts on self-determination and prosperity for our next generations, stewardship of our land and the Columbia River, and the health and well-being of our people and culture. More information can be found at cowlitz.org.