Busy beavers a challenge for London officials

Workers with the City of London and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) are being kept busy these days managing the beaver population. It's important work if the city is to maintain its infrastructure and prevent flooding.

"I will say that the population of beavers that we've seen in London has grown exponentially over the last four or five years," said Brandon Williamson, land management technician with UTRCA. 

That population growth means workers like Williamson are always trying to outsmart them. Beavers can block outlets for water flow causing flooding and damaging local infrastructure. 

But, the city has a beaver protocol to ensure that beavers are "treated in a respectful and consistent manner, balancing the various needs to protect the beaver and [its] habitat; the overall environment; city infrastructure; people and property," according to a city document detailing the protocol. 

Right now, the city and UTRCA workers are aware of about 50 sites where beavers are living in the city. 

'Beaver deceivers'

It takes consistent monitoring and a determination to outsmart the busy animals to ensure they don't become a significant problem. 

"They're really, really smart animals and really industrious," said Williamson. "You always have to be a step ahead of them."

One way the city is trying to stay ahead of the beavers is to install so called "beaver deceivers." 

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"It's when they're in our storm water management facilities or ponds in neighbourhood," said Shawna Chambers, division manager of storm water engineering. 

If a beaver dams up an outlet at the pond, it can cause flooding. Beaver deceivers are a mesh cage that the animals can't successfully block.

"What beavers can't stand is the sound of flowing water," said Chambers. 

It's believed that if the water continues to flow, the beavers will move to a new location.

Feed the beavers

Another piece of the protocol is feeding the beavers, although not human food, of course. 

Instead, fast growing, inexpensive, native species of trees are planted in areas to provide food for the beavers. 

"If you plant these trees, like a poplar tree, that's really quick growing and a low value tree. The hope is the beavers will choose them over sugar maple and black cherry and hickory and some of the more desired trees that we have," said Williamson. 

Having said that, beavers still go for some of those more desired trees. When that is happening, steps are taken to protect the higher value trees by wrapping them in a wire cage, according to officials. 

Cull the beavers?

When asked if the city would consider a cull to reduce the beaver population and prevent damage or flooding, that isn't the plan.

"Ever since the protocol has been enacted in the city we haven't had to resort to those measures," said Chambers. "We have definitely not been talking about anything to the extent of killing the beavers." 

"I think in the future there may be some other ideas that we may have to look at because we can't always put a flow device or a beaver deceiver in but before a cull is even considered there's going to be lots of other options that we've got," said Williamson. 

Education is key

Instead of killing the animals, there's a commitment in London's beaver protocol to increased public education. 

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"We need to let people know we're trying to work with the wildlife and trying to live cohesively with wildlife to make sure that both sides are happy in this," said Williamson. 

"Beavers are known for being creators of wetlands," said Chambers. "In nature it can be quite nice to set up that blockage and the water is dammed behind it. It creates biodiversity." 

Williamson will be conducting an Earth Day demonstration of beaver deceivers on April 28 at Harris Park. 

"Education is huge," he said. "We've got people who say [the beavers] are cutting all the trees down so we've got to get rid of them. Well that's their food; that's their habitat. They're allowed to be there."