Transporting wildlife is not like calling for an Uber. The passengers typically object, the destination may not have a paved road (or any road), and someone has to figure out how to get them from point A to point B unfazed and unharmed. In 1948, Idaho wildlife workers faced this exact problem and devised a plan involving air travel, custom carriers, and even some parachutes. It sounds like a movie, but the animals were real, and so was the paperwork.
Today’s Trivia Question
Which animals did Idaho wildlife workers relocate by parachute in 1948?
Bonus if you know the name given to the animal used for repeated test drops.
| A Few More for Fun… |
Before this plan would work, the humans involved had to devise a way to open their carrying crates and scramble enough parachutes for the trip.
How did the successful wooden transport box release its passenger?
Where did the project get its parachutes?
| A Few More Trivia Questions Before You Go… |
Back on the ground, the beavers could return to their usual line of work. Their tools, their spot in history, and even their names have stories of their own.
Answers
| TODAY’S QUESTIONAnswer: C. Beavers. They moved them into the Chamberlain Basin, a remote destination best reached by air. Avoiding the difficult overland journey allowed them to put the animals where their dam-building skills benefited the habitat. Not the usual way to transport a construction crew! Bonus points if you knew the beaver was named Geronimo. | |
| 01 | Answer: B. It opened on landing. The boxes had a mechanism that opened on impact. The earliest design had a dangerous flaw: beavers could easily gnaw through them and fall out before landing. Talk about ruining your travel plans. |
| 02 | Answer: B. Surplus military equipment from WWII. Military surplus provided the parachutes, and the project provided an unexpected use for them in peacetime. |
| 03 | Answer: D. Iron. Their dental enamel contains iron, helping to strengthen the teeth. While orange teeth are alarming to a dentist, for beavers they’re a tool of the trade. The incisors even continue growing as they wear down from use! |
| 04 | Answer: C. Hats. Beaver fur was prized in hat making, and European fashion trends fueled the trade in North America. So beavers were valuable long before anyone thought of air dropping them into the wilderness of Idaho. |
| 05 | Answer: C. To gnaw. Rodere means “to gnaw,” a description very well-suited to a beaver. The name describes how the teeth are used, not the size, so rodents can be found in a wide range of sizes and habitats. Most delivery services confirm the package arrived. The air-delivered beavers also needed the package to open itself and the contents to get to work straight away, improving the neighborhood! |
How did you do? Score 1 point for each correct answer and 1 point for the bonus if you knew it. Perfect score: 7.
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