Vegetation Protection

Many streams and rivers of  New Mexico host few large trees and it is painful to see these trees cut
down by beavers.  To human eyes this is “damage” but to the beaver it is “dinner” or "home building
supply store."

When beavers and humans have different ideas about the best use of the same tree, vegetation
protection can be the answer. Fortunately there are ways to protect particular trees without
eliminating the beaver and it's wetland ecosystem.

Depending on the circumstances, techniques used include tree wrapping, and painting with textural
repellants. As with other beaver management methods, doing it correctly is key.

Contact Seventh Generation Institute to discuss beaver management

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the beavers cut down all of the trees?
In New Mexico, beavers are most active cutting down trees when building a new dam or in the fall
because they are preparing for the winter. Beavers do not hibernate, so they plan ahead and build a
stockpile (cache) of edible sticks in order to survive the cold winter. Beavers are strict vegetarians.
They eat the inner lining of tree bark, as well as twigs, leaves, grass and aquatic vegetation. They
topple trees in order to gain access to all the bark on the trunk as well as the many branches on the
tree.

Beavers usually do not cut down all the trees in their ponded areas. Cutting occurs most heavily
within 100 feet of water, but can extend further. Other trees literally drown when beavers back up
water in newly constructed ponds. To human eyes these dead trees (snags) are ugly, but they are
needed by many species of birds for shelter, nest cavities etc.  Trees that fall into stream and beaver
ponds, whether cut or drowned,  improve the habitat for fish, frogs and the insects that provide food
for many other species.

If I remove a dam, will the beavers go somewhere else?
No matter how many times you remove a dam, the beavers will rebuild it. Usually very quickly.

If you are concerned about loss of nearby trees that are used by beaver in dam building, be aware
that removing the dam actually leads to more tree loss. When the dam is partly or completely
removed, most of the dam building materials will wash downstream. The beavers will now cut more
trees to repair the dam.

Dam removal has a number of other negative effects on streams and wildlife, depending on the
specifics of the site. It can release a small flood of water that erodes the area immediately
downstream, or floods your neighbors property, which may create a financial liability for you. It may
send a large flush of sediment downstream, which may injure fish, or smother fish spawning areas.
Most beaver ponds are home to many fish and other wildlife – when a pond is destroyed, these
animals may be left without shelter or exposed to predators.
For many beaver conflicts, a flow device is a much more effective long-term solution. See the
description of flow devices above.

There must be  other alternatives …?
Conflicts with beaver are not new and over time, almost everything has been tried.  
  • There are no poisons registered for use on beaver and none that are safe for other wildlife,
    fish, pets, or curious children.  
  • Even the “best” chemical repellants work for very short periods of time and under very
    limited circumstances. If your well-meaning  neighbor recommends garlic, deer repel or other
    products, don’t waste your time.  
  • Painted on textural repellents have some effectiveness but require labor-intensive repeat
    applications for most situations.  
  • Noise, dogs, electronic frightening devices and shock devices are also ineffective. Studies of
    these devices have shown that if there is any effect at all, it does not last more than one week.
  • Both live-trapping and kill-trapping are temporary solutions, as beaver will recolonize suitable
    habitat.
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