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Beavers, beaver dams, and artificial structures that mimic the effects of beaver dams are potentially useful tools for restoring incised streams, improving in-stream habitat for fish, mitigating the impacts of drought, and improving the availability of water and forage for livestock in western rangelands of the USA. Beaver and beaver-related stream restoration strategies are currently gaining prominence in the American West. Although research exists on the biophysical conditions conducive to using these restoration approaches at particular sites, little research exists regarding the social factors that enable or constrain beaver and beaver-like restoration strategies. This gap is particularly apparent for western rangelands where ranchers are important users and managers of private and public lands. I draw on research with ranchers from northern Nevada, eastern Oregon, and northern California to document ranchers� perspectives on: (a) beaver-livestock interactions; (b) the impacts of beavers and beaver dams on water and range management, and on overall ranching operations; and (c) the pros and cons of beaver-related restoration tools. Most ranchers having experience with beaver-related restoration identified both benefits and drawbacks, felt that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, and had different practices for addressing undesirable effects. However, beaver-related restoration tools alone do not suffice for achieving watershed restoration; where livestock contribute to stream incision and aquatic habitat degradation, changes in grazing practices are needed to accompany these tools. Other social issues to address in pursuing beaver-related restoration on western rangelands include legal and policy constraints associated with installing dams in streams, neighbors� views on beavers, water rights, and trapping.