Pearl Makes Friends with Beavers

On a recent trip out in the field, Pearl came across some beaver activity. Here at Missisquoi River Basin Association we support the beaver and its work. There is a great deal of beaver misunderstanding and Pearl would like to clear that up in this blog post.

What are beavers?

Beavers are large semi aquatic rodents native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are two species of beaver, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. In Vermont, we have the North American beaver that live in fresh water bodies such as rivers and lakes. Beavers have a vegetarian diet eating woody plants, leaves, and aquatic vegetation.

They can live for about ten years in the wild and reach sexual maturity at age 1.5-3. Beavers breed once a year, typically in the winter and give birth to litters of 1-4 kits at a time. Beavers live in family units and young beavers leave when they reach sexual maturity. They are primarily nocturnal animals and spend the day time in their shelter, tucked away in river banks. Beavers and beaver activity can be found across the Missisquoi Watershed.

Why do beavers have a bad reputation?

Beavers are unfortunately not loved by all. The activity of beavers can be seen as harmful by some. Beavers can cause flooding, property damage, and damage to infrastructure. This can cause tension with humans. Some landowners do not like that beavers chew down trees on their property, clog culverts, and flood their farmland. It is important to find a way to live in harmony with the creatures that live around us.

Why do beavers build dams?

Beavers build dams as an instinctive behavior to create a safe and stable habitat. These dams create pools of water where they can build lodges for shelter and access food. They also provide protection from predators such as bears, coyotes, and river otters. The dams also slow water flow, raise water levels, change water direction, and create diverse habitats for other species like trout and salmon. Beavers construct and maintain dams with whatever materials are in their environment, typically wood, stones, mud, and parts of plants.

Why are beavers so important?

Beavers are known as a keystone species. Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment compared to their population size. They are ecosystem engineers, changing their surroundings through dam building. Beavers can increase water quality by trapping sediment and nutrients, which can lead to healthier aquatic ecosystems.

Beavers increase biodiversity by creating a more complex and dynamic landscape with a variety of habitats, benefiting a wider range of species and can create wetlands with their dams. The ponds created by beaver dams help store water, improve groundwater levels, and reduce the risk of flooding. Beaver are extremely important!

How can we help beavers?

Beavers were once abundant in Vermont, but faced near extinction due to unregulated fur trapping and habitat changes by the mid-19th century. They were reintroduced in the 1920s and 1930s by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Today, Vermont's beaver population is healthy and growing, with them being recognized by the state as a valuable natural resource that benefits wetland habitat.

To continue to help keep the beaver populations healthy in Vermont, individual action can be taken.  Plant trees, clean up rivers and streams, limit pesticide use and runoff. Use your voice to educate others on the value of beavers in our ecosystem.

At MRBA we will continue to share our love for beavers and take pictures of beaver activity when we see it. The beavers were here first and we are simply trying to make their home a better place for all!