barnes june 2010 cws beaver presentation comp
TRANSCRIPT
Clean Water Services
June 2010
ODFW’s mission is to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by
present and future generations.
• Beaver facts• Historical significance of beaver • Beaver ecology• Benefits of beaver• Challenges• ODFW’s response & role in beaver management • Preventing conflicts & solving problems
American BeaverCastor canadensis
• Largest rodent in NA• A semi-aquatic herbivore• Crepuscular• Territorial• Monogamous• 3-4 kits / litter• Life span 5 -10 years• Mortality – predators, disease, water fluctuations, road kill• Limiting factor – habitat availability• Nature’s “engineers”• Ecological “keystone” species
Facts
• Estimated 1M beaver in OR pre-settlement • 1825 – beaver “scarce in Willamette Valley”• 1843 – “nearly extinct”• 1899 – beaver trapping prohibited statewide• 1932 – beaver relocation program initiated• 1945 – beaver considered nuisance• 1951 – beaver trapped as furbearer• Present – considered common, managed as both
“furbearer” (ODFW) and as “predator” (ODA)
Historical Beaver Numbers & Management
• Habitat Selection– year-round water flow– stream gradient <6%– canopy cover of 25-50%– bank-full width of 13-20 feet– abundant food supply
• Food and Feeding Habits– primarily deciduous– most foraging within 165 feet of water– most intense foraging occurs in fall– abandon sites when food supply low
Beaver Ecology
• Beaver Dams– goal is maintain deep water
(protection, food, access)– no dams on water bodies that
maintain a constant level – # of beaver dams greatest in fall
• Lodges & Bank Dens– places to rest, stay warm, raise young– multiple entrances– stream / pond banks, stumps, docks
Beaver Ecology
• Beaver ponds ……– Provide valuable habitat for a variety of
fish and wildlife– Are important salmonid rearing areas– Store leaf litter– Improve wetland functions (water
storage, release, temperature) – Increase stream habitat complexity– Change plant succession – more dead
trees, more edge, more primary production, more plant growth
Benefits of Beavers to Fish and Wildlife
• Ponds created by beaver…– increase water storage– reduce in-stream water velocity– stabilize stream flow– allow for gradual release of water downstream– trap sediments– reduce P and N– increases local water table – stimulate plant growth– provide wildlife viewing opportunities
Other Benefits of Beaver Activity
• Blocked culverts, irrigation ditches• Local flooding
– Roads– Pastures
• Damage to vegetation– young timber– commercial orchards– landscaping– gardens
• Loss of riparian restoration plantings• Digging into banks, levees, houseboat styrofoam
Challenges: Beaver Damage
• The Oregon Conservation Strategy– ID’s wetlands and riparian areas as priority habitats– beaver contribute to riparian / wetland health & benefit OCS
Strategy Species
• Emphasis on voluntary conservation action to help beaver– plant species preferred by beaver– restore riparian areas to attract beaver– consider beaver in project planning and design– where beavers do cause damage, work towards solutions that
address the problems while allowing beavers to remain at the site.
ODFW’s Response & Role in Beaver Management
• Protect Trees & Plantings– Consider species and planting location– Plant densely– Install barriers– Repellents
Preventing Conflicts & Solving Problems
• Prevent Flooding– Install bridges / “oversized” culverts– Use flow device to maintain water level behind dam– Remove beaver dam (no permit from ODFW required)– Encourage beaver to build dam elsewhere
Preventing Conflicts & Solving Problems
Important Considerations: * Landowner approval must be obtained *
* Contact DSL to determine if a removal-fill permit is required when working within state jurisdictional waterway *
FlexiblePond Leveler
Encourage the beaver to build upstream from an existing culvert
• Beaver Working Group– Beaver Relocation Guidelines (draft)
• Research– Beaver literature review– Beaver Relocation Study (Phase 1)– Landowner Incentives Survey (on-going)– Habitat Assessment (Phase 1)– Proposed research (genetics)
• Information & Education– Beaver web portal on ODFW’s web site– Living with beaver document
ODFW’s Response & Role in Beaver Management
• Initiated Aug. 2007 Fish Bio meeting
• ODFW Fish and Wildlife divisions
• Fish & wildlife bios from E & W Oregon, F& W researchers & F&W policy staff
• Added external stakeholders June 2008
• Developed goals and list of project needs
ODFWBeaver Working Group
Beaver Working GroupMission Statement
“Using existing rules and statutes, identify research and information gaps to help us
improve our understanding of beaver ecology and beaver management so we can maximize the ecological benefits that beaver provide (especially for ESA listed coast coho), and minimize any negative
economic (or other) impacts .”
ODFW Fish Biologist’s Recommendations
Integrate beaver restoration/protection into riparian protection/restoration efforts.
Dedicate specific funding for restoration projects that include beaver – combine with landowner incentives
Need better information about impact of unregulated beaver take (no reporting except from APHIS and licensed trappers)
Develop better understanding of beaver habitat requirements and hydrologic conditions conducive to maintaining healthy beaver populations
Re-location of problem beavers rarely successful, need to conduct well designed re-introduction experiments in a variety of ecosystems
• Prime habitat occupied• Beaver relocated from damage area to location
where people want beaver to be• Usually no evaluation of suitability • Usually move downstream• Commonly unsuccessful due to predation or
trapped to resolve damage they caused
Development of Beaver Relocation Policy
Current Challenges:
ODFW Beaver Relocation Study
• Umpqua River drainage• Objective: To determine if beaver (and dams) can be
restored to suitable areas• 37 beaver relocated to selected areas in 2009• Determine:
– Establishment– Survival rates– Dispersal– Habitat selected– Habitat changes
ODFW Beaver Relocation Study:Preliminary Results
• Out of 37, 9 alive, 5 unknown status, 23 dead• Mortality:
– Predation: 9 (coyote and cougar)– Accidents: 5 (2 roadkill, 2 died from injuries after going over a
falls, 1 caught in fence and drowned)– Natural: 1– Unknown cause: 3– Transmitter loss: 4– Capture related:1
• Survivors:– Variable movements, 0 – 8 miles– No persistent dams created– Some established bank dens
ODFWBeaver Habitat Assessment Project
• Vegetation type and DBH • Stream order and gradient • ACW & ACH, wetted width• % open sky and # trees in 4.5 ac sample block
adjacent to stream
Project Goal: To examine beaver – habitat relationships,define suitable beaver habitat and predict where beaver will occur
• ODFW regulates “take” of wildlife (ORS 496.004)• Transportation and relocation of any wildlife requires a permit from
ODFW (ORS 497.308)
• On public land beavers are classified as Protected Furbearers (ORS 496.004 and OAR 635-050). Implemented by ODFW.
• On private land beaver are defined as a Predatory Animal (ORS 610.002). Implemented by ODA.
ODFW’s Response & Role in Beaver Management
Applicable Regulation:
• A permit is required from ODFW to transport/move beaver. – ODFW is developing guidelines for live-trapping and relocating
beaver. Until then, no relocation of beaver is authorized.
• Private landowners (or their agents) may lethally remove “predatory animal” beaver without a permit from ODFW. – A landowner can trap the beaver themselves, hire an ODFW-
permitted Wildlife Control Operator, or allow a licensed regulated trapper to remove beaver during the established trapping season.
• Beaver on public lands can be trapped by a licensed regulated trapper during the established trapping season.
ODFW’s Response & Role in Beaver Management
Interpretation:
• Beavers are native wildlife that have an important role in creating and maintaining healthy, dynamic ecosystems.
• Beavers benefit a variety of fish and wildlife, including OCS Strategy species.
• Fish biologists consider beaver vital to fish recovery.• ODFW recognizes the historical and cultural significance
of beaver in Oregon.• ODFW encourages voluntary conservation, conflict
prevention, and problem solving that allows beavers to remain in the system
Summary
• ODFW manages beaver as furbearers.• ODFW considers trapping to be an acceptable method of
beaver harvest.• ODFW recognizes that some beaver activity causes
damage and creates a hardship that warrants lethal control.
• Private landowners or their agents may lethally remove beaver without a permit from ODFW.
• Removing beavers is typically a short-term solution as other beavers will move into the area if suitable habitat is present.
Summarycont’d
Questions?