At Oregon Zoo, 'Stumptown Fil' says winter's not over yet

Filbert the beaver has made his forecast; Northwest hunkers down for six more weeks
Sure, Punxsutawney Phil may be calling for six more weeks of winter, but more importantly for local residents, so is Stumptown Fil — aka Oregon Zoo resident Filbert the beaver.
"Groundhogs like Punxsutawney Phil are fine for their part of the country," said Christina Parr, a keeper in the zoo's North America section. "Here in the Northwest, though, we are beaver believers."
Filbert made his forecasting debut last year, Parr said, and he did not have an impressive first showing.
"Last year, Filbert predicted an early spring, and in March we had to close the zoo because of snow and ice," Parr said. "Then again, Punxsutawney Phil's record isn't so great either — you might be better off flipping a coin."
Even if meteorology doesn't end up being Filbert's strong suit, he does a great job connecting people with one of Oregon's most iconic and misunderstood animals, according to Parr.
Born at the zoo in 2011, Filbert has acquired thousands of fans on the zoo's social media channels, where his industrious wood-gathering activities have earned him the title "branch manager." Last March, he welcomed a new coworker when Maple moved in. The toothy twosome now share a lodge and go on dam-building adventures together.
Filbert also is an experienced research assistant. In 2015, he lent his services to Oregon State University for its Beaver Genome Project.
Though Oregon is known for its beaver population, that hasn't always been the case. In the 19th century, American beavers were hunted and trapped for their fur; by about 1900, they were almost gone from many of their original habitats. Pollution and habitat loss also affected their survival. In the last 100 years, thanks to re-establishment programs and hunting regulations, beavers have made a strong comeback. They are now listed as a species of least concern by the International Union of Conservation of Nature.
Metro, the regional government that manages the Oregon Zoo, has preserved and restored more than 90 miles of river and stream banks in the region through its voter-supported natural area programs. By protecting water quality and habitat, these programs are helping to provide the healthy ecosystems needed for beavers, fish and other wildlife to thrive. Beavers are frequently observed in Metro region waterways.
More News

Zoo, partners return 19 endangered turtles to wild
Zoo-reared northwestern pond turtles are released in the Columbia River Gorge It was a shell-ebration last week for 19 northwestern pond turtles reared at the Oregon Zoo. In addition to partners from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and U
May 19, 2025

Sad goodbye to "Sir Snacks-a-lot," beloved red panda Moshu
The Oregon Zoo is mourning the loss of beloved red panda Moshu, who passed away peacefully this morning, more than a year after being diagnosed with severe heart disease.May 14, 2025

Take action: Protect wildlife by protecting their homes
Speak up to protect wildlife. Submit a public comment urging the government to keep the Endangered Species Act strong — including protections for habitat.May 8, 2025