Background
Beaver Dam; Photo: Goldman, Luther C.,
USFWS. Click photo for full size. |
The New Mexico Department of Game
and Fish (NMDGF) receives numerous beaver depredation (property
damage) complaints each year. Landowners usually request that
the "offending" animals be removed from their property,
and often refuse options that would allow the beavers to stay
where they are. Because NMDGF field officers are overwhelmed with
depredation complaints, they lack the time to relocate these animals
to suitable areas. Therefore, the beavers are almost always killed.
The presence of beaver in riparian
(riverbank) ecosystems can greatly improve water quality and increase
species diversity. In addition, countless other wildlife species
depend on beaver habitat at some point in their life. This being
the case, every possible effort should be made to find non-lethal
solutions to depredation complaints. Each animal is extremely
valuable, not only intrinsically, but to the health of the environment
as well.
Goal
Animal Protection of New Mexico
(APNM) will work with NMDGF to reduce the number of beaver deaths
resulting from depredation complaints. This will be achieved primarily
by:
1. Education:
Volunteer Opportunity
Beaver Dam; Photo: Smylie, Tom, USFWS.
Click photo for full size. |
If you are interested in participating
as a volunteer, please contact APNM's Wildlife Campaigns Manager , Debbie Risberg, at 265-2322, or email. We will need help with such things
as tree wrapping, tree painting, and the installation of flow
devices to prevent flooding. We will also need assistance with
live trapping and relocating relevant "problem" beavers
to suitable areas.
Volunteers should be in decent
physical condition. Expect to do a lot of walking on uneven terrain,
bending, lifting, getting wet, etc. Moderate amounts of travel
will be involved. No experience is necessary, as a volunteer training
workshop will be held. Please spread the word about this wonderful,
hands-on opportunity to save wildlife and improve the health of
New Mexico's rivers and streams. The more volunteers we have,
the more ground we can cover!
Attention Landowners and
Riparian Conservationists!
APNM is currently creating a list
of potential homes for beavers who may need to be relocated in
the future. Are you a private landowner interested in having beaver
on your property? Are you conducting riparian restoration efforts
that could incorporate beaver? If so, please contact Debbie Risberg, at 265-2322, or email. Potential sites located in central/northern
New Mexico are preferred. However, any suitable locations will
be considered.
The Benefits of Beaver
The presence of beaver in an area
will improve habitat quality for many types of wildlife, such
as fish. Beaver activities have been found to help control flooding
and erosion. Beaver dams can act as filters, thus reducing sediment
and improving water quality. Pools created by beavers can provide
a source of water for irrigation and fire control.
How to Identify Suitable Beaver Habitat
Beavers need to live in riparian
areas abundant with willow and cottonwood trees. They prefer trees
3-5 inches in diameter that can be found within 100 feet of water;
and a slow, constant water flow with a channel gradient less than
15 percent. 1 Streams that are too steep or narrow may lead to
beaver dams getting washed out during heavy rains. Stream banks
should also allow for burrowing, as lodges may take some time
to construct.
Beavers are excellent at modifying
habitat, and in many cases, can be placed in marginal habitat
and improve it greatly. However, many locations in which beaver
could normally survive may currently be unsuitable due to drought
conditions. Please take this into consideration when suggesting
previously occupied areas as potential relocation sites.
How to prepare for Beaver
LANDOWNERS BOTH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM
SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE YOU ACCEPT BEAVER ON YOUR PROPERTY.
THESE ANIMALS MAY MIGRATE SOME DISTANCE BEFORE SETTLING, AND WE
DON'T WANT THEM TO BECOME A PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
1. Olson, R. (speaker). 1999. Summary
of Proceedings: Beaver and Common-Sense Conflict Solutions. U.S.
Department of Agriculture/Forest Service: Southwestern Region.
p. 12.
