Historically, beaver likely inhabited nearly every waterbody in the greater Salem area. Then, in the 1800s, beaver populations throughout the state (and the country) plummeted due to unregulated trapping for the fur trade. The removal of beaver significantly altered the dynamics of watersheds and contributed to the decline of stream health. And with beaver populations all but wiped out in Salem, this keystone species' needs, habitat preferences, and impacts were not taken into account in the development of the city. Now, with beaver populations on the rebound, beaver are starting to move back into more urban streams. While this benefits other wildlife, water quality, and the health of urban streams in many ways, it also creates new challenges for storm water management, transportation infrastructure, parks and recreation, and streamside residents and businesses. The resources on this page are designed to provide information that will help you better understand Oregon's state animal and learn how to coexist with them.