Flooding
Culvert Protection
Tree Damage
Other Beaver Solutions
Photo Credit Beaver Institute
In California’s arid, wildfire-prone landscapes, beaver-human coexistence offers significant benefits for both people and wildlife. Beavers play a crucial role in hydrating vegetation—an effect that has been shown to slow or even stop the spread of wildfires. Their pond-building behavior helps retain water on the landscape, extending seasonal flows and reducing the impacts of both drought and flooding.
Across both rural and urban settings, beavers create rich, varied habitats that support a wide range of species, including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds, and browsing mammals. This increase in biodiversity also benefits nearby human communities, enhancing ecosystem services and improving quality of life.
Sometimes, the natural behaviors of beavers will conflict with human infrastructure goals. Common issues such as flooding, tree chewing, and culvert plugging can be addressed through innovative coexistence solutions. Flexible pond leveling devices promote coexistence by keeping the ponded water behind beaver dams at a level that is functional with nearby human infrastructure and concerns. Trapezoidal culvert protection fences, decrease the cue (detectable water flow) that would otherwise cause a beaver to plug a culvert. With a fence in place, the water will continue to flow and the beavers will continue their good work in the community.
Connected Ecology specializes in providing effective strategies, permitting and construction of pond levelers, culvert protection, tree protection and other flow devices to manage human-beaver conflicts within California. Our goal is to promote human-wildlife harmony with the associated benefits of more stored water, reduced fire risk and increased wildlife habitat.
Contact connectedecology@gmail.com for help with problematic beaver situations!