Canadian fur trappers with the British Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) reached the Snake River watershed in 1819. As American fur trappers kept coming to the region, the HBC ordered the Canadians to kill as many beavers as they could, under the rationale that "if there are no beavers, there will be no reason for the Yanks to come," and even if the Americans did ultimately gain control, the HBC would already have taken all the profit. Focused primarily on the upper Snake River region, the "fur desert" policy was carried out in nine expeditions from about 1824–1831 and aimed to decrease the Americans' economic interest in the Oregon Country, the vast region of the Pacific Northwest centering on modern-day British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. By the time the Americans annexed Oregon Territory in 1848, beaver were nearly extirpated across much of the Rocky Mountains.
cANAdian Fur trapPErs with the BriTish hudSon's bay compaNy (hBc) reachEd the snake riVER WateRSheD iN 1819. as amerIcAn Fur traPPers kEpt coming tO tHE reGion, The Hbc orDereD the cAnAdIANs tO Kill As Many beAVErs as tHey cOULd, undeR tHE raTIonale that "If thEre Are No beaVeRs, therE wIlL Be nO reAsoN for the yaNks To come," And eVen If the ameRIcans dID ultimaTely Gain conTRol, the hBc would Already haVE tAken AlL the prOfit. fOcuSEd prImaRily ON the uppEr snake rIvER region, the "fUR deserT" policy waS carrIeD oUt In nIne exPeditiOns fRom AbOUt 1824–1831 and aimed To deCReASe the americaNs' EcOnomic iNterEsT in ThE oregon coUNtry, the vASt rEGIoN of THe pACific nORthWeST ceNteriNg on modeRn-daY bRitIsh cOluMbia, wASHingTOn, oregoN ANd idAHo. BY The TIMe The AmeriCaNS annEXed oreGon TErrItory in 1848, BEaveR were nearly eXtiRpATed AcrOss muCH of THe RocKY moUntains.