Jun 16, 2009 5:36 pm US/Eastern
Beaver Dams Cause Flood Problems In Mass. Towns
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Beaver traps were outlawed in 1996, and now the state's beaver population has skyrocketed from 20,000 to 70,000.
"Following
those changes we did see an expanding of the beaver population and with that an increase in complaints," says Laura Hadjuk of Mass. Wildlife.
Now, beaver dams are flooding areas that have seldom been flooded. One backyard visited in Concord now floods whenever it rains heavily because of a new beaver dam nearby.
"Well I believe that the beavers are happy, but the neighborhood here is not very happy," one resident said. "When it rains or gets backed up in that pit where the beaver dam is, the backyard over here fills with water."
BEAVER DECEIVERS
But one beaver dam in Westboro is equipped with what's called a 'beaver deceiver'. A pipe is inserted into the dam to allow water to flow, then it's caged off so the beavers don't build over it.
"It allows the beavers and the homeowners to live harmoniously," explains Delia Kaye with Concord Natural Resources. "So the [upstream] water level is reduced, but still is deep enough so the beavers can live but not cause flooding or the impairment of structures or whatever is causing the health or safety concern."
CO-EXISTENCE AND MANAGEMENT
With beaver numbers steadily increasing, people and wildlife officials have to be resourceful. Is there a long-term solution or do we just have to learn to live with them? Hadjuk's answer is co-existence and management.
"Have regulated trapping go through, come through on a regular basis if you have continual problems."
There is an upside to all of this though. The wetlands caused by the beavers do help to recharge the water tables.
Read:
Beaver Laws in Massachusetts
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