Wildlife Love Stories: The Magic of Beavers and Boreal Toads
And don't forget to join our upcoming Volunteer Thank You Bash at Tracy Aviary!
In early 2020, volunteer Sierra Hastings found her life mixed up, as many of us did. In an effort to grow closer to nature, she decided to volunteer with conservation organizations, plunging into stream restoration at a volunteer day in Park City. She was hooked.
Since that fateful day, Sierra has become a core volunteer on many restoration projects with our team and partners. “It’s an addictive feeling, seeing these works of art come together like they do,” she says about her experience building beaver dam-inspired structures on our Stream Restoration Program.
A recently-released beaver eyes volunteer Sierra Hastings as they explore their new home. Photo ©Sierra Hastings (cropped)
On a recent beaver release, Sierra tucked away behind some bushes to photograph an incredible moment: four beavers making their way out of cages and into the water. Learn more about her experience and the release in our recent blog post, and don't forget to sign up to join our stream restoration project or donate to support this work!
RSVP Soon: Volunteer Thank You Bash!
2022 project volunteers, please join us in a few weeks to celebrate the season! Our Thank You Bash is on September 28 at Tracy Aviary. Come have some food, meet other volunteers, and enjoy Aviary magic. Don't forget to RSVP here to help us plan for food.
A Lifelong (Warty) Love:
Boreal Toads & Hogle Zoo's Kayleigh Mullen
One of our partners and a Boreal Toad Project lead, Kayleigh Mullen’s love for wildlife and wild places started at a young age. “I grew up in a small village in rural England, and I was lucky enough to roam free through woodlands and pastures,” she reflects. "I think that is where my first love of being outdoors and in nature sparked from.”
Hogle Zoo's Conservation Programs Supervisor Kayleigh Mullen pauses during a survey for boreal toads.
This blossomed into a lifelong career, leading to her current position as Hogle Zoo’s Utah Conservation Programs Supervisor. “I knew I wouldn't be content doing anything else.” Learn more about Kayleigh's work at the Hogle Zoo in our post.
25 Years of Science-Based Conservation: Impact Report
Have you read our 2021 Impact Report? Take a look to learn what your volunteer hours and donations make possible for wildlife in the West. Thank you for all you do!
In the News:
Can mimicking beavers
help save the Great Salt Lake?
As climate change, drought, and questions about water allocation converge in the West, scientists like stream ecologist Rose Smith work to find meaningful solutions. What kinds of issues can stream restoration help support? Read this recent Fox 13 article to learn what scientists are saying.
Join Our Current Projects
Thank you for your passion for wildlife and lands in the West! Support the future of conservation by donating today.
Visit the project page on our website or connect with us on social media (see links below) to learn more about our conservation work, and please contact us with any questions or suggestions.