Beavers elicit very extreme emotions from people; they either love them or hate them. Especially on wet years such as this, they can cause issues with landowners due mostly to flooding. However there are more than two options for dealing with Canada’s iconic rodent, other than hunting/trapping and blowing up the dams. Several co-existence tools can be utilized to help mitigate the issues that they can cause on the landscape such as flooding and the removal of valued trees.
To protect our property’s higher valued trees, mixing paint with sand and painting the bottom few feet of the tree will prevent them from taking a bite out of your tree. Or else, placing chicken wire to create a barrier around the trees can also work. For short term discouragement you can make your own deterrent using different spices such as cayenne and spread it around, which would prevent the beaver from chewing on your trees.
Beavers are attracted to the sound of running water and are compelled to stop the flow of water, which is why they frequently plug culverts. Building an exclusion fence with angles that are not natural for the beaver to be able to create a dam can protect the culvert and ensure the continual flow of water. For the beaver dams themselves, the installation of a pond leveller device can lower the water levels, while maintaining enough water for the beavers to survive the winters in their lodges and be able to preserve their food caches. Pond levellers are a simple device which involves placing a large diameter pipe (the size is dependent on the type and size of the water body) through the beaver dam at a depth that will lower the water to an appropriate level. The pipe extends about 30 feet in front of the dam and is secured below the water level and is caged with hog panels that allow for fish passage. The beavers are unable to find the “leak” in their dam, and the water level will be maintained. These devices have been successfully used in this area. For more information on these devices, please contact the Lakeland Agricultural Research Association. Funding and resources are available for landowners wishing to install these devices on their lands.
Kellie Nichiporik
Moose Lake Watershed Society Chair
