Beaver Management Plan
The DNR is currently collecting input on beaver management in Wisconsin. The input period is open through Jan. 31 for anyone who wants to weigh in on beaver management over the next 10 years. Public input periods like this are the best way for you to shape the future management of the species, so please take a few minutes to provide input.
This input period is part of the DNR's process to draft the next Beaver Management Plan. A key part of this process is collecting and considering public feedback. The feedback collected will be reviewed and discussed by staff and the Beaver Management Plan committee, a committee of stakeholders that is helping to develop this new management plan.
Please submit comments through the online comment tool or by emailing comments to Shawn Rossler, DNR Furbearer Specialist, at Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov. All comments will be reviewed and considered.
The DNR's Beaver Management Plan is due for an update in 2025-2026. The current Beaver Management Plan (2015-2025) is available. Since the DNR manages beavers in accordance with this plan and adheres to state and federal laws, it takes this revision process very seriously. It will remain transparent, deliberative and inclusive throughout the management plan update process.
During the plan update process, the DNR will collect extensive public input through a Beaver Management Plan committee, public workshops, an online questionnaire, and a 45-day opportunity to review and comment on a management plan draft. Throughout the process, the DNR will also work closely with our tribal partners and other natural resource professionals involved in beaver management in Wisconsin.
After all public comments have been considered, edits will be made to the draft plan, which will then be submitted to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for approval. The department is grateful for all who will participate in the plan's development, share feedback and follow along throughout this process.
Timeline
January 2026
- The DNR opened a public input period to gather comments on beaver management from Jan. 7 to Jan. 31.
- DNR will also hold three public listening sessions as an alternate method of collecting public comments on beaver management. See the DNR's public meetings calendar for details.
- Another BMPC meeting will be held on Jan. 21.
December 2025
- The BMPC held a third meeting on Dec. 10. Meeting materials are available in the Committee Meeting tab.
September/October 2025
- The Beaver Management Plan Committee (BMPC) held its first meeting. Meeting materials are available in the Committee Meeting tab.
- The BMPC also held a second meeting on Oct. 29. Meeting materials are available in the Committee Meeting tab.
July/August 2025
- The DNR reviewed applicants for the BMPC. The department notified applicants of its decision, and the committee roster was published on this webpage.
May/June 2025
- The DNR held an application period for membership on the Beaver Management Plan Committee from May 28 to Jun. 20.
- Finalize Beaver Management Plan Committee Charter and Application Questions
March/April 2025
- Preparations for announcing application opportunities for stakeholders to apply for a seat on a newly formed Beaver Management Plan Committee.
February 2025
- Beaver Management Plan Information Item shared with the Natural Resources Board.
December 2024/January 2025
- Request for Bids for Beaver Management Plan Facilitator.
December 2024
- Correspondence with 11 federally recognized tribes and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission sharing the DNR's decision to update the beaver management plan.
Fall 2024
- DNR decision to update the 2015-2025 Beaver Management Plan.
Beaver Management Plan Committee
The Beaver Management Plan Committee's (BMPC) purpose is to provide input to the DNR as it develops an updated beaver management plan, ultimately resulting in a plan with broad public and scientific support. While purely an advisory committee, its membership will help the DNR better understand the diverse public interests surrounding beavers in Wisconsin.
Membership
Members were selected following an application and invitation process in the spring and summer of 2025. Members represent one of the following interests: trapping organizations, fishing and cold-water organizations, wetland and habitat organizations, environmental organizations, beaver conservation/education organizations and agricultural organizations. One additional stakeholder seat was available for a qualified organization or individual with a unique perspective on beaver management that did not fall within the broad interest groups described below. In addition to these stakeholder seats, the committee is represented by other government agencies, the tribes, and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
Stakeholder Group Definitions:
- Hunting and Trapping Interests: Organizations whose mission includes ensuring the hunting and trapping heritage in Wisconsin remains strong while embracing changing societal values, specifically promoting the use of regulated harvest as a primary tool to manage wildlife species.
- Fishing/Coldwater: Organizations whose mission focuses on conserving, protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
- Wetlands/Habitat: Organizations whose mission includes protecting, restoring and enjoying wetlands and associated ecosystems.
- Environmental Interests: Organizations whose mission includes ensuring the sustainability of wildlife and wildlife habitats in Wisconsin, specifically promoting beaver-related coexistence as part of maintaining healthy ecosystems and natural landscapes.
- Conservation Education Interests: Organizations whose mission includes wildlife conservation in Wisconsin through science-based management and educational outreach, specifically promoting sound science in wildlife management decision-making and sharing science-based public educational outreach on beavers.
- At-Large Stakeholder Interests: Available to any Wisconsin organizations or residents generally interested in and/or affected by beavers and beaver management (as detailed on their application and determined by the department). These members are expected to provide viewpoints that may not be captured by other organizations representing specific interests.
Thank you to everyone who applied for membership in this committee. Review the committee roster to learn more about committee members.
Committee Meetings And Materials
The committee meets as needed, based on the department's requirements and the progress of the draft management plan. All meetings are publicly posted on the Public Meeting Hearings and Meetings Calendar page. Meeting minutes can be found on this page as they become available.
BMP Committee Meeting 3 - Dec. 10, 2025
- BMPC Meeting #3 Slides
- Summary of Public Attitudes and Opinions On Beavers and Beaver Management
- Waterway Regulations and Beaver
*Additionally, a presentation was provided by Friends of North Pikes Creek Wetlands, Superior Bio-Conservancy and Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Please contact the respective groups if you are interested in copies of their presentations.
BMP Committee Meeting 2 - Oct. 29, 2025
- Recording of Meeting 2
- BMPC Meeting #2 Slides
- DNR Beaver Monitoring Efforts
- 2025 USDA Overview
- Research on the Influence of Beaver Dams on Coldwater Habitat and Trout in Wisconsin Streams
BMP Committee Meeting 1 - Oct. 1, 2025
Public Input
The DNR plans to collect public input to inform the beaver management plan update process. Below is a list of public input opportunities offered during updates of other species management plans. Once a schedule has been finalized, a complete list of input opportunities related to beaver management will be provided on this webpage.
Scientific Assessments Of Public Opinions Towards Beavers
The DNR initiated a scientific survey of Wisconsinites' attitudes toward beavers and beaver management in November 2024. The survey results will be available in the summer of 2025.
Public Input Period
The DNR developed an online public input questionnaire to collect input from all interested individuals on beaver management. It will run from Jan. 7 through Jan. 31. A summary of the data collected will also be made available to the public (once compiled), and staff will present it to the Beaver Management Plan Committee to aid in discussions on the future of beaver management.
As part of this public input period, the DNR is holding three public listening sessions. Anyone is welcome to submit their feedback at one of these sessions instead of through email or the online comment tool. Two of the listening sessions are in-person meetings on Jan. 14 and 21, and the third is a virtual session on Jan. 28.
Event Details
- Public Listening Session 1
Wednesday, Jan. 14, from 6-8 p.m.
Hayward Holiday Inn Express and Suites
15586 County Road B
Hayward, WI 54843 - Public Listening Session 2
Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 6-8 p.m.
Milford Hills
W5670 French Road
Johnson Creek, WI 53038 - Public Listening Session 3 (Virtual)
Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6-8 p.m.
Virtual Session via Zoom: Register online
*Those interested in providing comments must register for this meeting in advance.
Public Comment Period
The DNR will also hold public comment periods, during which the public can share feedback on the draft plan (once it becomes available). To make the input process accessible, the public can submit comments in various formats, including email, mail and through the online submission tool. Additionally, the DNR will host listening sessions during the comment period, allowing the public to share their comments verbally. More information on these opportunities will be added to this page as we progress through the update process.
After the comment period is closed, staff will review every comment and consider it for the beaver management plan. A summary of the comments will be available for the public.
Open Houses
Once a draft plan is developed, the DNR will host a few public open houses related to the Beaver Management Plan. These open houses will provide the public with more opportunities to learn about the draft plan and speak directly with staff about it. The dates and locations will be posted here once scheduled.