Beaver Pond Leveller Installation - Training Session

This video is a tool to assist in the installation of beaver management devices. This video has been created as part of a collaborative between Cows and Fish and the Miistakis Institute, Putting Beavers to Work for Watershed Resiliency and Restoration. Learn more at www.rockies.ca/beavers/index.php
Please note that prior to the installation of any coexistence tool, it is important to check for permitting requirements with your local, provincial/state, and federal departments

[@dave_in_florida]

Great idea 💡

[@kevinwilkey4687]

Is there a reveiw on this a year later or two to see what the results are? Looks like a great idea.

[@Miistakis]

Great question! We do our best to monitor all of our install sites yearly or ask partners how they are functioning. Pond levellers require maintenance checks once or twice a year to ensure they are working properly and to clear any vegetation or debris that may build up if it's installed in a shallower pond. Occasionally the pond leveller requires adjustments such as the installation of a protective grate on the outflow end of the pipe, but most of the time this is not necessary. To see examples of other pond levellers installed in Alberta, please visit our Map of Beaver Coexistence Tools (www.rockies.ca/beavers/map.php)

[@kevinwilkey4687]

@@Miistakis thank you.

[@robertholden7990]

volume can not hear

[@SecondLineNews]

Won't the beavers eventually cut through the plastic, and then plug up the tube?

[@Miistakis]

Great question! Although that is possible it's unlikely and we've never heard of that happening at a site. It's unlikely because the beaver is motivated by the sound and feeling of the water flow created at either end of the pipe (outlet in the dam, and inlet which is placed in the pond). The inlet is protected by the large wire cage so the flow created is not as strong since the pipe sits in the middle of the cage. Essentially they cannot figure out where the source of the "leak" in the dam is located so do not know the pipe is involved at all. They will sometimes dam the end of the pipe but it's difficult since they are working against the flow of the water, and if this happens, metal fencing can be applied at the outlet as well.

[@ninosawbrzostowiecki1892]

If they damage it in a few years they'll just install a new one. Doesn't look super expensive.

[@bearbear8039]

Wont they just plug up around the cage

[@Miistakis]

Good question! The inlet end of the pipe is suspended in the middle of the cage, reducing the feeling of flowing water thus reducing the beaver's instinct to try to plug it. If they do feel some flowing water, the surface area of the cage is much too large from them to effectively plug it, even if they try. Additionally, this is one reason why the pipe is extended approximately 40 feet into the pond, far away from the outlet end which produces the sound of running water. By having the inlet and outlet ends far apart, the beaver can't usually figure out where the leak in the dam is coming from or how to fix it. I have not heard of a beaver successfully plugging the cage on the inlet end but it's something to monitor for.