Barbara's Reviews > When Beavers Flew: An Incredible True Story of Rescue and Relocation

Progress often spells the demise of certain species as the needs of humans seem to come before the needs of animals. And even when caring individuals try to move those animals to another area in order to save them, those efforts often fail. This fascinating story of one man's clever solution to the conflict between beavers and the burgeoning human population in McCall, Idaho, in 1948 is an example of success. Idaho Fish and Game Warden Elmo Heter knew that the humans and beavers would conflict, and the beavers would lose so he transported 76 of them in boxes attached to parachutes and airlifted them to what would become the River of No Return Wilderness where the beavers flourished. Readers will be amazed at the lengths Heter went to insure the beavers would thrive, trying other modes of transportation, including pack mules, before hitting on the idea of flight. The text is lively, engaging, and just different enough ["Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!"] to intrigue youngsters interested in the environment, and the Adobe Photoshop illustrations lovingly portray this innovative conservationist, the beavers, and the rugged terrain as well as the effects beavers have on wetlands. It's interesting to ponder what those flying beavers thought once they were in their new home. This picture book makes a good read aloud choice as well as an excellent addition to a science classroom library.