Survey Hails Beaver Baffling
In 1999, The Fund for Animals launched a “beaver baffling” program to help homeowners, city officials, and highway departments resolve problems caused by beavers. A survey released today by the national animal rights group indicates the program is working, with 89 percent of respondents deeming the program a success.
When beavers build dams in culverts, streams, and other waterways, they often cause a backup in water flow that can flood roads, yards, and septic systems.
State wildlife agencies often promote beaver trapping to mitigate these problems, but The Fund for Animals says this is inhumane and ineffective because migrating beavers move in when others are removed.
The organization’s beaver baffling program includes installation of pipe based water flow control devices inserted through beaver dams or culverts to keep water at the desired level.
“Beavers have an instinctive response to block any spot where they hear the sound of running water, yet the device works through deception,” said Laura Simon, urban wildlife director for The Fund for Animals. “It moves water silently so the beavers do not hear the sound of running water, and the water level can then be controlled unbeknownst to the beavers.”
The key is simply proper installation and maintenance, Simon says.
Thirty six people were interviewed for the survey, representing sixteen town or agency staff and twenty private homeowners. Because multiple devices were installed for some respondents, this survey assessed how a total of 54 devices were working. v “This survey proves that humane methods are effective and cannot simply be dismissed by trapping proponents,” said Simon. “It shows a low failure rate with minimal maintenance requirements, and the vast majority of respondents found the maintenance to be well worth the effort.”
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.