Living With Beavers - Ways Humans and Beavers Can Get Along
Preventing Flooding with Flow Devices - Free-standing Dams
One of the most common ways to prevent excessive flooding due to beaver dams is the addition of flow devices! Flow devices work by allowing water to flow out of a beaver pond through a pipe that has been run through the beaver dam [1,2,3]. Clemson Pond Leveler devices have holes throughout the pipe to allow maximum water flow and Flexible Pipe and Fence Systems use a flexible pipe that runs along the bottom of the pond [1]. The intake end of the pipe is located around 20 feet from the dam in the beaver pond and is protected by a metal mesh cage meant to prevent the beavers from plugging the pipe [2]. The flow devices should be checked regularly to make sure they are working properly and haven't been plugged up by debris [1]. A study by Laura Simon for the Humane Society of the United States found 87% of flow devices at 156 dams successfully prevent flooding [2]. The key to a flow device is to allow enough water to leave the pond to prevent flooding but not draining the pond completely [1,2,3]. Properly setup flow devices allow beaver dams to create beaver ponds without causing excessive flooding [1,2,3]. This way, humans and animals can enjoy the benefits of beavers without the disadvantages!
One of the most common ways to prevent excessive flooding due to beaver dams is the addition of flow devices! Flow devices work by allowing water to flow out of a beaver pond through a pipe that has been run through the beaver dam [1,2,3]. Clemson Pond Leveler devices have holes throughout the pipe to allow maximum water flow and Flexible Pipe and Fence Systems use a flexible pipe that runs along the bottom of the pond [1]. The intake end of the pipe is located around 20 feet from the dam in the beaver pond and is protected by a metal mesh cage meant to prevent the beavers from plugging the pipe [2]. The flow devices should be checked regularly to make sure they are working properly and haven't been plugged up by debris [1]. A study by Laura Simon for the Humane Society of the United States found 87% of flow devices at 156 dams successfully prevent flooding [2]. The key to a flow device is to allow enough water to leave the pond to prevent flooding but not draining the pond completely [1,2,3]. Properly setup flow devices allow beaver dams to create beaver ponds without causing excessive flooding [1,2,3]. This way, humans and animals can enjoy the benefits of beavers without the disadvantages!
Preventing Flooding with Flow Devices - Culverts
While flow devices work well in traditional beaver ponds, they struggle to succeed when it comes to beaver dams in culverts [3]. The most common device used to prevent culvert blockages due to beavers are triangular, trapezoidal, or rectangular fence structures made of metal mesh which are placed at the mouths of culverts [1,2]. These structures work by preventing beavers from building an effective dam in or around the culvert and allowing water to flow as desired [1,2]. In cases where culverts experience high water flow or beavers repeatedly dam the culvert, a pipe system similar to one used on a traditional dam can be combined with a fence structure to ensure even better water flow [1]. Like traditional dam flow devices, culvert flow devices also require regular checks to make sure they aren't being blocked up [1]. When proper maintenance is done, 97% of culvert devices work to prevent flooding [2]!
While flow devices work well in traditional beaver ponds, they struggle to succeed when it comes to beaver dams in culverts [3]. The most common device used to prevent culvert blockages due to beavers are triangular, trapezoidal, or rectangular fence structures made of metal mesh which are placed at the mouths of culverts [1,2]. These structures work by preventing beavers from building an effective dam in or around the culvert and allowing water to flow as desired [1,2]. In cases where culverts experience high water flow or beavers repeatedly dam the culvert, a pipe system similar to one used on a traditional dam can be combined with a fence structure to ensure even better water flow [1]. Like traditional dam flow devices, culvert flow devices also require regular checks to make sure they aren't being blocked up [1]. When proper maintenance is done, 97% of culvert devices work to prevent flooding [2]!
Preventing Damage to Trees
The best way to prevent damage to ornamental or otherwise important trees is to protect the trees with metal meshing, flashing, screen, drain tile, or plastic culvert [3,4]. Any of these materials should be secured by placing stakes in the ground around the tree and attaching the material to the stakes [3,4]. This method is efficient in protecting several trees, is relatively inexpensive, very effective, and requires no maintenance as long as the protection is setup correctly [3,4]. This method should only be used to protect certain trees that are valuable or rare, as the downing of trees is an important part of the cycle of the forest and provides animals with homes, nesting sites, and supports wildlife at an unimaginable scale [4]!
The best way to prevent damage to ornamental or otherwise important trees is to protect the trees with metal meshing, flashing, screen, drain tile, or plastic culvert [3,4]. Any of these materials should be secured by placing stakes in the ground around the tree and attaching the material to the stakes [3,4]. This method is efficient in protecting several trees, is relatively inexpensive, very effective, and requires no maintenance as long as the protection is setup correctly [3,4]. This method should only be used to protect certain trees that are valuable or rare, as the downing of trees is an important part of the cycle of the forest and provides animals with homes, nesting sites, and supports wildlife at an unimaginable scale [4]!
References
1. Beaver Institute™. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.beaverinstitute.org/management/tree-protection/
2. Simon, L. J. (2006). Solving Beaver Flooding Problems through the Use of Water Flow Control Devices. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 22. doi:
10.5070/v422110285
3. Taylor, J. D., & Singleton, R. D. (2013). The evolution of flow devices used to reduce flooding by beavers: A review. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(1), 127–133. doi:
10.1002/wsb.363
4. Vantassel, S. M., Hygenstrom, S. E., Ferraro, D. M., Wilson, S., & Fryda, R. (2013). Solving Beaver Flooding Problems through the Use of Water Flow Control
Devices. NebGuide.
Picture References in Order of Use
Ebbeka, Dee. [n.d.]. Controlling Beaver Damage. [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/y7lm9r28
Lewallen, Gregory. [2017]. The Beaver Restoration Guidebook. Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains. [Illustration]. Retrieved
from https://tinyurl.com/ya8sox2of
Boyles, Stephanie. [2006]. Report on the Efficacy and Comparative Costs of Using Flow Devices to Resolve Conflicts with North American Beavers along Roadways in the Coastal Plain of Virginia. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/ybbfjgg8
Beaverinstitute. [n.d.]. How to Protect Trees from Beaver Chewing. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/ybs83y67
1. Beaver Institute™. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.beaverinstitute.org/management/tree-protection/
2. Simon, L. J. (2006). Solving Beaver Flooding Problems through the Use of Water Flow Control Devices. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 22. doi:
10.5070/v422110285
3. Taylor, J. D., & Singleton, R. D. (2013). The evolution of flow devices used to reduce flooding by beavers: A review. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(1), 127–133. doi:
10.1002/wsb.363
4. Vantassel, S. M., Hygenstrom, S. E., Ferraro, D. M., Wilson, S., & Fryda, R. (2013). Solving Beaver Flooding Problems through the Use of Water Flow Control
Devices. NebGuide.
Picture References in Order of Use
Ebbeka, Dee. [n.d.]. Controlling Beaver Damage. [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/y7lm9r28
Lewallen, Gregory. [2017]. The Beaver Restoration Guidebook. Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains. [Illustration]. Retrieved
from https://tinyurl.com/ya8sox2of
Boyles, Stephanie. [2006]. Report on the Efficacy and Comparative Costs of Using Flow Devices to Resolve Conflicts with North American Beavers along Roadways in the Coastal Plain of Virginia. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/ybbfjgg8
Beaverinstitute. [n.d.]. How to Protect Trees from Beaver Chewing. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/ybs83y67