tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82004227310836227892024-03-13T09:54:05.048-07:00The Cottager's Guide to BeaversBeaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-53495492538347255312011-04-21T20:38:00.000-07:002011-04-21T20:46:23.969-07:00What is the big deal with beavers anyway?<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why are beavers a problem to cottagers?</b></span><br />
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If you have beavers near your property, you may have an all too familiar understanding of the term "nuisance beavers," but if beavers have not colonized near your property it may not be so apparent why they could be such a major problem. The most obvious issue with neighbouring beavers is the danger and damage from falling trees; however, the more pressing issue is actually flooding!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could a beaver dam lead to this?</td></tr>
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Beavers are very efficient and thorough at maintaining their dams and repairing leaks, but eventually they may abandon their dam and over a few years the dam will decay, collapse and release all of the reservoir water it was holding back. Additionally, there are the rare occasions where occupied dams collapse; something goes wrong and the beavers are unable to repair their dam in time. <br />
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These floods have potential to cause major damage. For example, in 2009 a dam collapsed, caused a train derailment and resulted in more than 15 000 L of fuel to be spilled into the Ottawa river. The story is outlined in <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2009/06/04/ottawa-train-derailment-mattawa.html">this CBC article</a>. Although this disaster was the result of a collapsed dam, the environmental damage is the result of more complicated circumstances than merely some pesky beavers living in the region. The disaster is ultimately the result of a failure to develop effectively along with nature. As we have outlined in previous posts this blog is about how humans and beavers can cohabit effectively. This requires proper ecological knowledge and management.<br />
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In this case, the flood hit a train, but "train" could easily be replaced with "cottage". Beaver dams should not just be taken with a grain of salt, and beavers must be managed effectively. If you are concerned about potential flooding, remember that the lifestyle of the beavers does have positive a effect on the ecosystem, attracting nature and allowing it to flourish for you to enjoy. Therefore, the best solution would be relocation to suitable habitat that is just outside the range where floods could be damaging, but close enough for you to reap in the rewards. This is best done as non-intrusively as possible, but of course relocation is by definition fairly intrusive. Ways to do this are through traditional trap and release, or by use of the beaver baffler <a href="http://thecottagersguidetobeavers.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-humanely-relocate-beavers.html">outlined here</a>.Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-57273170768798284412011-04-21T10:53:00.000-07:002011-04-23T11:46:02.284-07:00Cool Beaver Fact #2<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The largest beaver dam in the world can be seen from space!</b></span><br />
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The phrase busy beavers comes from the fact that beavers are compulsive dam builders. Beavers are always working, cutting down new trees and fixing their dam. Scientists believe that the trigger for this obsession is the sound of running water and possibly even the sight of running water. When loudspeakers playing running water noises are placed near a beaver dam the beavers will continue to gather wood and add to their dam even though it is clearly finished.<br />
In other blog posts we've briefly described why beaver dams are very important to ecosystems, but why are beaver dams important to beavers? For one thing, a dam creates a reservoir of water that beavers can use as a home. While beavers are good swimmers, they are much worse on land, so a large pond is very preferable for moving around, finding food, and creating new opportunities for food.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/beaver-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/beaver-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
When a number of beaver colonies stay in the same place for a long period of time, beaver dams have the potential to become enormous. Spotted on Google Earth, the largest beaver dam stretches almost a kilometer! Located in Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, the dam is 850 m long and has been under construction for over 40 years; however, oddly enough, nobody knew it existed until 2007. The old record holder was a 652 m dam in Three Forks, Montana.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Behold! The world's largest beaver dam:</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://greenearthfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/largest-beaver-dam-actual-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://greenearthfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/largest-beaver-dam-actual-picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-63292055389217459542011-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:002011-04-21T09:30:10.867-07:00The Environmental Role of Beavers<!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Apart from being Canada’s national symbol and the face of the nickel, the beaver is an ingenious ecosystem engineer that plays a specific role in shaping the unique rural environment that Canadians take pride in: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">1) Keystone Species:</span></b> The beaver is considered a keystone species, and its ability to beneficially reshape and modify the ecosystem surrounding its habitat renders this species one of the largest contributors to Canada’s aquatic environments. Their removal would upset the balance of the ecosystem, causing collapse. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhvG_jrZAjw/TbBa5rsxd9I/AAAAAAAAACM/V22safZpSUY/s1600/keystone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhvG_jrZAjw/TbBa5rsxd9I/AAAAAAAAACM/V22safZpSUY/s320/keystone.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">2) Ecosystem Functioning:</span></b> Beavers ensure productive ecosystem functioning, which creates and upholds the natural beauty and species diversity of southern Ontario. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">alterations in hydrology, biogeochemistry, vegetation and ecosystem productivity </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">beaver damming promotes sediment accumulation, water conservation and provides ideal colonization sites for herbaceous and riparian vegetation </span></li>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3) Habitat Provisioning:</span></b> Habitat modifications by beavers benefit a large number of wildlife species that depend on aquatic, wetland and riparian habitat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">feeding, breeding, wintering and migration habitats for waterbirds, songbirds, wild turkey, etc. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">increased prey and forage resources for mammals like mink, muskrats, moose and deer </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">improvements in water quality and habitat area for multiple fish species</span></li>
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<!--EndFragment-->Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-77876699477616955492011-04-21T07:59:00.000-07:002011-04-21T08:55:09.244-07:00Mutualistic Relationships Between Beavers and Other Species<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A) Invertebrates:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--f0n-fJniEc/TbBIQAYYXeI/AAAAAAAAABk/74vTyYUM8cQ/s1600/Dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--f0n-fJniEc/TbBIQAYYXeI/AAAAAAAAABk/74vTyYUM8cQ/s200/Dragonfly.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Beaver damming increases invertebrate abundance and changes the invertebrate assemblage in the surrounding habitat by increasing microhabitats<o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Typical assemblages of aquatic invertebrates following beaver damming include predatory dragonflies, sludge worms, filtering mussels, midges, water beetles and chironomids</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Typical assemblages of terrestrial invertebrates in a beaver pond include fruit flies, weevils, leaf beetles and bark beetles<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Aquatic invertebrates provide a good food source for fish, while both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate species provide protein- and calcium-rich food for birds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">B) Birds:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvFHJ7J8ISs/TbBTOaMpR_I/AAAAAAAAACI/DOcpcwpSh3E/s1600/male_wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvFHJ7J8ISs/TbBTOaMpR_I/AAAAAAAAACI/DOcpcwpSh3E/s200/male_wood.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
-Beaver ponds create important feeding, breeding, wintering and migration habitats for waterfowl and other water bird species (wood ducks in particular for southern Ontario regions)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The ponds and aquatic vegetation associated with beaver habitats provide courtship areas, nesting cover and travel lanes for birds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The cutting of trees around beaver habitat during initial colonization opens the forest canopy and improves habitat for edge and woodland species like wild turkey and numerous songbird species</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Dead and decaying trees in flooded beaver ponds may provide nesting and feeding sites for woodpeckers, and when the woodpeckers abandon their nests (because they use a different nest each breeding season) they become used by other birds like flycatchers, tree swallows, tits, wood ducks, owls and kestrels</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Herons, kingfishers, cormorants and egrets use beaver ponds as foraging grounds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">C) Mammals:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHThzyEc6io/TbBIS_OGqZI/AAAAAAAAAB4/5CtFMK97-Sw/s1600/white_tail_deer-pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHThzyEc6io/TbBIS_OGqZI/AAAAAAAAAB4/5CtFMK97-Sw/s200/white_tail_deer-pic5.jpg" width="193" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Beaver dams increase prey and foraging resources for semi-aquatic mammal species like the North American mink, muskrats, water voles and otters<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Terrestrial mammals like elk, deer and moose benefit from beaver activity through increases in vegetation (bark and branches of felled trees, riparian vegetation)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Beaver dams also create habitats for mice, gophers, rabbits and hares<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Increases in fish abundance also creates an optimal foraging area for different bear species in the summer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">D) Fish:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgTz62hhw_E/TbBIRcnsC1I/AAAAAAAAABs/622_RIGbLGs/s1600/rainbowtrout+fig2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgTz62hhw_E/TbBIRcnsC1I/AAAAAAAAABs/622_RIGbLGs/s200/rainbowtrout+fig2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Beaver damming improves the habitat for fish species by improving water quality, reducing erosion and reducing seasonal fluctuations in flow <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The increased water levels caused by damming may also improve overwinter fish survival, or create an important winter habitat for fish lacking deep pools, by providing cover and resting habitat and reducing temperature fluctuations <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-For salmon, beaver dams maintain the clean gravel required for spawning through reductions in flow rate and decreasing in the silt load in the water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Fish species including brown trout, sockeye salmon, brook charr, minnows and rainbow trout have been found to be larger in beaver ponds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_J8lpP9FLNw/TbBIQ4WxRFI/AAAAAAAAABo/-VRE51fku8s/s1600/leopard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_J8lpP9FLNw/TbBIQ4WxRFI/AAAAAAAAABo/-VRE51fku8s/s200/leopard.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">E) Amphibians and Reptiles:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Frogs, toads and tailed amphibians (like salamanders) often use the shallow waters of beaver ponds to breed and lay eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-This is important because amphibians are becoming increasingly threatened due to habitat degradation, pollution and climate change, and it is crucial that breeding areas be preserved<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQSOod6Afb0/TbBISFHe9mI/AAAAAAAAABw/k-qAXqWlMPI/s1600/snapping_turtle_052604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OQSOod6Afb0/TbBISFHe9mI/AAAAAAAAABw/k-qAXqWlMPI/s200/snapping_turtle_052604.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Turtles and water snakes may utilize beaver ponds because the habitat provides shallow, slow-moving water with abundant vegetation and soft organic substrates that these species prefer</span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fscLxeD4bA0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Different Animals That Benefit from Beaver Dams</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fscLxeD4bA0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-92036904422160665362011-04-20T12:18:00.001-07:002011-04-21T08:39:41.933-07:00The Role of the Beaver on the Physiochemical Characteristics of Aquatic Ecosystems<div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 9.5px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQON0vlEiGI/TbBPnPAxt5I/AAAAAAAAACE/rrAk0IrTkkU/s1600/cartoon-beaver-10.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQON0vlEiGI/TbBPnPAxt5I/AAAAAAAAACE/rrAk0IrTkkU/s200/cartoon-beaver-10.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">There are strong and continuous interactions between hydrology, geomorphology, water chemistry and temperature in aquatic ecosystems, and they are all significant factors that influence aquatic organisms, and can be modified by beaver activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A) Hydrological Effects of the Beaver:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Reduction of stream velocity (slows down the flow rate in streams)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Decreased peak discharge and stream velocity during a run-off event, thereby reducing the potential for erosion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Reductions in the sediment-carrying capacity of the stream, which causes sediment accumulation, which can protect areas from erosive perturbations<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Increases in the area of riparian habitat, which act as buffers against aquatic contamination<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Recharged groundwater due to elevated water table<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Enhanced water conservation due to decreased run-off efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">B) Water Chemistry:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Beavers may exert considerable influence on the productivity of fresh waters by altering nutrient levels<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Naiman & Melillo (1984) found that beaver ponds stored approximately 1000 times more nitrogen (N) in sediments, per linear metre of stream channel, than riffle areas and that this was solely a function of the amount of sediment accumulated in the different habitats<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Fallen wood from trees killed by inundation and wood used in dams and lodges represent input sources of organic matter that are important to phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics of the aquatic ecosystem and represent a long-term source of nutrients to the pond water and outflow<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-The anaerobic zones (without oxygen) in the sediment interstitial waters of beaver ponds may be enriched in dissolved nutrients, which stimulates increased primary production (e.g. higher algae levels were found in streams that housed beaver dams compared to streams without beavers)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Beavers may play an important role in modifying water chemistry in regions where inputs of strong acids from atmospheric pollution are relatively high<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Smith et al. (1991) found that pH, acid neutralizing capacity (ANC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), iron (Fe2+) and manganese (Mn2+) values were elevated, while sulphate (SO42–) and ionic forms of aluminium (Aln+) were decreased following passage of water through a beaver impoundment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Beaver ponds also act as net annual sinks for inlet nitrate (NO3–) and silica (H4SiO4) and a net annual sources of ammonium ions (NH4+)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">C) Water Temperature:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-The role of beaver dams on water temperature are somewhat inconclusive, but some patterns have been identified<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">-Studies have found that beaver dams in large ponds act as thermal buffers, raising downstream water temperatures slightly, and they also decrease daily fluctuations in water temperature to create a more stable environment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-76343934211493161722011-04-20T11:37:00.000-07:002011-04-24T07:38:47.651-07:00The Loss of Wetlands in Southern Ontario<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WR5vtIqpOM/Ta8hf5ZQnpI/AAAAAAAAABA/IJB90Bvtmzo/s1600/wetland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6WR5vtIqpOM/Ta8hf5ZQnpI/AAAAAAAAABA/IJB90Bvtmzo/s400/wetland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> Wetland decline is a serious issue in southern Ontario that is resulting in rapid and significant biodiversity loss. Many people are unaware that this issue extends right into the backyards of many Ontario residents. In 2010, Ducks Unlimited Canada (a wetland and wildlife conservation organization) released a report indicating that 72% of southern Ontario's large inland wetlands have been lost or converted to other land uses, and that this loss is continuing at an alarming rate. The decline to the wetland base has been most drastic in southwestern Ontario, parts of eastern Ontario, Niagara and the greater Toronto area, where in some regions the loss is greater than 90%. Kingston is one region in particular that has lost a substantial amount of wetland ecosystem, with an estimated 65% loss by 2002. The year 2002 also marks the loss of 1.4 of the original 2.0 million hectares of wetland habitat that was present in southern Ontario prior to European settlement. However, what is even more concerning is that this loss represents only large inland wetlands greater than 10 hectares in size. If the research investigated the loss of all wetlands in Ontario, the percentage of loss would be even higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"> Wetlands are a vital part of Ontario’s environmental and economic sustainability. They provide many benefits, such as enhancing water quality, ground water recharge, flood, drought and erosion prevention and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Wetlands are important habitat for wildlife and species at risk, offer ecotourism opportunities and provide important social and cultural benefits to the people of Ontario and to all Canadians. A downloadable version of the Southern Ontario Wetland Conversion Analysis by Ducks Unlimited Canada can be found at <a href="http://www.ducks.ca/aboutduc/news/archives/prov2010/101012.html"><span style="color: #0026e2;">http://www.ducks.ca/aboutduc/news/archives/prov2010/101012.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Despite this rapid decline in wetlands, all hope is not lost, and the <b>beaver</b> is one solution to help mitigate the problem. The construction of beaver dams can actually restore and/or create wetlands by expanding the saturated surface area of the riparian zone, which causes the surrounding terrestrial community to be converted into an aquatic community.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</span></span></span></span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-75217232735139186452011-04-20T10:30:00.000-07:002011-04-21T08:21:25.592-07:00How To Humanely Relocate Beavers<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Beaver Baffler:</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WF_zVhaVmg/Ta8VRhGY6XI/AAAAAAAAAA8/gXFW-M9mF1Q/s1600/beaver+baffler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WF_zVhaVmg/Ta8VRhGY6XI/AAAAAAAAAA8/gXFW-M9mF1Q/s400/beaver+baffler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The beaver baffler is an effective long-term solution for discouraging beavers from using your property, or areas adjacent to your property, for the construction of their dams. This device is made from one or two large-diameter drain pipes (7.5 to 10 cm) that are installed through the dam, with one end in the deep part of the pond and the other downstream, far away from the dam. The water flows through the dam into the downstream region, lowering the water level in the area surrounding the beaver dam. The distance between the dam and the drain outlet is important because beavers are attracted to the sound of running water and are compelled by instinct to dam it up. The farther the distance from the dam, the greater the success in confusing the beaver. Because the drain is under the surface of the water, the beavers are unlikely to discover why they can’t control the water level in the pond and eventually they will become discouraged and move on, leaving behind a small pond. Over time new beavers may move in, but they will not stay long if they can’t increase the depth of the pond. Periodic maintenance of the baffler is required. Installation is sometimes done with the help of local naturalist or hunter groups who have an interest in maintaining ponds as wildlife habitat.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span><br />
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</span></b>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-47970697953718376352011-04-16T06:46:00.000-07:002011-04-21T08:35:28.814-07:00How To Deal With Beavers That Cause Flooding<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler:</span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler (Figure 1) was developed to meet two goals: 1) The need to suppress the problem of flooding of agricultural and timber lands and 2) To maintain or improve some of the benefits derived from beaver ponds and associated plant communities while preventing extensive flood damage. The Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler device should help reduce flooding, manipulate pond levels and solve road culvert plugging problems. The device consists of perforated PVC pipe that is encased in heavy gauge hog wire. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This part is placed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">upstream of the dam or blocked culvert, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the main run or deepest part of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the stream. It is connected to non-perforated </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sections of PVC pipe which are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">run through the dam or culvert to a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">water control structure downstream. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is effective because the beavers cannot </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">detect the sound of flowing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">water as the pond or culvert drains and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">therefore they won't try to plug the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pipe.</span></span></span><br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">Materials<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">Quantity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">10' section, 10" diameter. PVC pipe<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">PVC cap for 10" diameter. PVC pipe<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">10" x 8" PVC pipe reducer coupling<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">86" sections, 3/4" diameter plastic roll pipe (water pipe), 160 psi grade<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1/4" metal couplings for roll pipe<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1⁄4" x 2" galvanized eyebolts<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1⁄4" galvanized nuts<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">1⁄4" galvanized washers<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">16" sections, 8 gauge galvanized wire (medium hardness)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">96" sections, 2" x 4" 12<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>1⁄2<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>gauge galvanized welded wire<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 388.15pt;" valign="top" width="518"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">Crab trap clamps (fasteners)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.65pt;" valign="top" width="121"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large;">2 lbs<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmpdmZ9gG3k/TamdsuAfn5I/AAAAAAAAAA4/bdGRzGRN23k/s1600/Clemson_Levelor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmpdmZ9gG3k/TamdsuAfn5I/AAAAAAAAAA4/bdGRzGRN23k/s640/Clemson_Levelor.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Figure 1. </b>Diagram of the Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler. </span></span></span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-18265336738527685682011-04-15T20:19:00.000-07:002011-04-21T08:36:33.885-07:00How To Deal With Beavers That Destroy Personal Property<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">1) Fencing:</span></b> Trees can be protected by wrapping heavy mesh hardware cloth, sheet metal or a few layers of chicken wire around the base of a tree to a height of one metre, to prevent winter snow chewing. The fence generally does not need to be anchored to the ground, and the bottom can be cut to fit a sloping ground, or to protect prominent roots from chewing. Leaving a few inches of space between the tree and the wire allows for tree trunk growth. Replace as needed with a larger diameter cylinder to allow for trunk expansion.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvJWRtKNvxU/TamWS4VwzJI/AAAAAAAAAA0/PnjSxti2v-0/s1600/_MG_8634_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvJWRtKNvxU/TamWS4VwzJI/AAAAAAAAAA0/PnjSxti2v-0/s320/_MG_8634_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">2) Homemade Repellents:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">a) Abrasive Tree Paint (Textual Repellent): It is advisable to make only in small batches of the paint at a time on the day you are going to apply it. Using too much sand will cause the mixture to roll off the tree. Apply paint to bottom three to four feet of tree trunk. For best results, do not paint every tree, leaving some for beaver food. This formula does not work for saplings, so protect them with wire fencing. To reduce the conspicuousness of the repellent, it is usually possible to get the paint tinted to match the colour of the tree if you bring a sample of the tree bark to your local hardware store.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Ingredients</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Paint: Exterior Latex (choose a color to match the bark) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mason Sand (30 mil or 70 mil) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Formula Mix 5 oz sand per quart of paint, or <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mix 20 oz sand per gallon of paint, or <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mix 140 gm sand per liter of paint</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ol></ol><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">b) Aversive Taste Repellents</span></b>: Cayenne Pepper: Vegetable or mineral oil infused with cayenne pepper and then painted on the tree trunks has also been reported as an effective means of preventing beaver chewing.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-24000364730881425802011-04-15T16:41:00.000-07:002011-04-21T20:37:11.906-07:00Pesky Beavers?!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have beavers been trampling on your cottage or your home? Have they been destroying your trees and flower beds? Do you feel compelled to trap...or even shoot them? Don't.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes there are laws and acts in Ontario, British Columbia and other areas of Canada that allow private landowners the right to abolish them, but the downstream effects of killing beavers are disastrous!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This blog will inform you of the numerous benefits of beavers, the downside of eradicating beavers, major conservation issues related to beavers, and numerous economical and sustainable ways to live harmoniously with beavers! Check back from time to time to learn more about beavers!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If there are any questions or comments feel free to comment below any blogposts!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cheers!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-13881685217623852962011-04-15T15:46:00.000-07:002011-04-15T15:46:25.123-07:00Beavers are Master Builders!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beavers are enablers! They provide numerous ecosystem services through dam building - such as altering water and soil chemistry, providing habitat for other organisms and allow sedimentation. This video accurately depicts the beaver's ability to expand ponds and create vast channels to create and sustain habitats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZVbKwDmr-o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-61211466214416111412011-04-15T14:27:00.000-07:002011-04-15T17:57:48.123-07:00An Inside Look into the Life of the Beaver<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuMRDZbrdXc">How Beavers Build A Lodge - BBC Animals</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VuMRDZbrdXc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>This video is a great tool for anyone who wishes to gain more information about the fascinating lifestyle of beavers and the amount of work that is put into dam construction. Beavers truly are Canada's most iconic rodents!Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8200422731083622789.post-17077948342335291422011-04-15T14:09:00.000-07:002011-04-21T08:34:53.040-07:00Cool Beaver Fact #1<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The beaver was once classified as a fish</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While the beaver is certainly an agile swimmer and is at home in the water, it is most definitely not a fish. In fact, there are some reptilian ancestors… and then some amphibian ancestors in between beavers and fish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: center;"><img alt="" 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" 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a tree of vertebrates and shows which classes have common ancestors. Beavers are mammals and would fall under the category of “Rodents and rabbits” in this tree. To get truly specific, the North American beaver is of the order Rodentia, the family Castoridae and the genus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Castor</i> and the species is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">canadensis. </i>This means that the North American beaver is a castorid rodent (of which only two species survive today), that we call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Castor canadensis.</i> Their closest relatives are squirrels and marmots.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Regardless of the beaver's true position in the tree of life, in 1760 the College of Physicians and the Faculty of Divinity in Paris declared the beaver to be a fish! The logic behind this classification goes something like this: fish have scales, beavers have scaly tails, therefore the beaver must be a fish. Though, beaver tails are actually just leathery, not scaly like a fishes scales. The motive for this classification was really so that beavers could be eaten during lent. Meat (but not fish meat) is prohibited during Fridays in Lent, but if beavers were fish it would not be a sin to eat them. Similarly, in the 16<sup>th</sup> century, the pope declared the largest rodent in the world, the capybara, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">to also be a fish</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. During this period, every year 400 tons of capybara was eaten during Lent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lastly, here is a new (possibly?) beaver inspired movie:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>Beaver Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629663345189521954noreply@blogger.com0