Beaver Monitoring and Management in Elk Island National Park

On April 5th, 2025, David Bruinsma will present on the monitoring and managing beavers in Elk Island National Park. The free presentation will start at 2:00 pm in the Astotin Theatre; doors will be open at 1:30 pm. Arrive early to get a great seat; snacks and drinks will be provided. There will be door prizes as well. Regular park fees apply.

David (Dave) Bruinsma has been on the Resource Conservation team at Elk Island National Park since 2019. He led beaver monitoring and management for the park from 2019–2021 and has coordinated the park’s bison management program since 2022. In addition to the beaver and bison programs, Dave spends much of the spring and summer months focused on monitoring Elk Island’s songbirds and Species at Risk (including bats and western toads). He has a background in avian ecology and Species at Risk, having worked elsewhere in western Canada on boreal and grassland songbird monitoring and recovery of burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies and a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management. He lives in Edmonton with his wife, two sons, a dog, and two guinea pigs.