Beaver Control
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Humans must continually search for effective methods to coexist in the natural environment our world presents. This is a huge concern as our population grows and our reliance on the earth to provide food and habitats for the people of the world to live in increases.
There are many cultures of people and types of animals that must survive finding food and shelter. Beavers are just one example of this interaction. Beavers have to create a habitat to live in. This habitat can be found near creeks and streams or other bodies of water. Problems tends to arise when people live near these creeks and rivers where the beavers have worked to create the habitat they need to exist. When the beavers build dams, adjacent yards and fields can be effected by the altered levels of water.
[edit] Why they build the dams
Beavers build dams so they can safley travel in and out of their homes without being vulnerable to prey. These dams cause the water in the creeks and rivers to flood the surrounding area upstream from the beaver's dam. In order to prevent this flooding from happening some people take action into their own hands by killing or trapping the beavers. Others leave the beavers alone and let nature take its course.
I believe that with innovative ideas beavers and humans can coexist without conflict. Many naturalists want to attempt to restore streambeds to a condition that would naturally attract beavers. However, that change could create problems for the stream structure and the surrounding suburban areas. One idea, called a “beaver deceiver,” is described in “The Solutions to Beaver/Human Conflicts”. This method has been used for beaver-proofing parts of Vermont. This is a device that will maintain the level of water so the beaver's needs are met for its home and safety while not flooding the farmer’s crop fields or neighbor's back yards. This method permits the beaver to live in a healthy habitat while allowing crops to grow in adjacent fields.
[edit] What is a Beaver Deciver
The Beaver Deceiver is made of cedar posts and wire fencing, consisting of 6-inch squares. These devices are intended to prevent the beavers from bringing large logs and sticks to build their dams and thus clog up waterways. Their suggestion is to put drainage pipes, better known as PVC pipes, throughout the middle of the dams so that the water keeps flowing through the dams. In addition to the PVC pipes, a fence or some sort of cover would need to be built so the beavers do not attempt to build around the drainage pipes which would clog the pipe. The one small drawback to this method is that it requires seasonal maintenance to unclog the pipes.
These devices can work for individual situations, but are not as effective on a large scale. Some people believe that the beaver deceiver is only a temporary fix and the adjacent areas will eventually be affected by beavers.
This method has been developed by researchers in an attempt to maintain the existing environment while allowing animals in nature to thrive. Each situation with beavers building dams is different which presents an opportunity for people to find other soultions to problems according to their own circumstances.
[edit] References
“Solutions of Bever/Human Conflicts”, http://www.beaversww.org/solutions.html 12/17/2004
Castor Canadensis Then Waterman and Hill-Traveller’s Companion, a Netural Events Almanac, Why Beavers Build Dams, http://naturealminac.com/archive/beaver_dams/beaver_dams.html (2003). Jim Jung
