Southeast Beaver Alliance

Louisville Public Media's Derek Parham recently interviewed SEBA member Evan Patrick on the work of Bernheim Forest and Arboretum's volunteer 'Beaver Brigade' to change the relationship the park and local community have with beavers. 

Listen to the interview HERE!

The Southeast Beaver Alliance believes that humans and beavers can thrive in shared landscapes. While beaver activity can sometimes lead to conflicts, nonlethal mitigation strategies offer effective and sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the environment. Instead of resorting to trapping and killing, we champion methods that allow us to coexist with these natural engineers.Effective coexistence involves understanding beaver behavior and implementing proactive measures. Techniques such as flow control devices (like pond levelers and culvert protectors) can manage water levels and prevent flooding without harming beavers. Other strategies include tree protection (wrapping or painting tree trunks).Okay, let's delve into how these nonlethal mitigation techniques work:

Flooding Mitigation

These devices are designed to manage water levels in areas where beaver dams might cause flooding, without removing the dam or harming the beavers. The underlying principle is to allow water to flow through the dam in a way that doesn't trigger the beavers' instinct to stop the flow. Common types include:

• Pond Levelers: These typically consist of a pipe that is installed through the beaver dam, with one end upstream and the other downstream.The upstream intake is usually protected by a cage or fencing to prevent beavers from plugging it with debris. The outlet downstream is set at a desired water level. Water flows through the pipe, maintaining a pond level that is acceptable to both beavers and humans. Because the outflow isn't a significant or noisy leak in the dam itself, the beavers are less likely to try and block it.
• Culvert Protectors: These are structures, often cages or fences, placed around culvert openings that beavers tend to dam.The protector prevents the beavers from accessing the culvert entrance to build a dam directly in it, thus ensuring continued water flow through the culvert.

In essence, flow control devices work by subtly managing the hydrology in a way that accommodates both beaver activity and human needs.

Tree Protection

This involves physically protecting individual trees that beavers might otherwise fell for food or dam-building material. Common methods include:

• Wire Mesh or Netting: Wrapping the base of a tree trunk with sturdy wire or netting makes it difficult for beavers to gnaw through the bark.The protective barrier should be high enough to prevent beavers from reaching the trunk above it, especially when standing on snow or debris.
• Fencing: For protecting groups of trees or sensitive areas, temporary or permanent fencing can be erected around the perimeter to exclude beavers.

Tree protection focuses on making specific trees less appealing or accessible to beavers, thus preventing damage to valuable vegetation. By embracing these nonlethal approaches, we can minimize human-beaver conflicts while allowing beavers to continue providing their invaluable ecosystem services. Choosing coexistence means cleaner water, healthier wetlands, and more resilient landscapes for all.