Beavers relocated to restore wetlands, mitigate farmers’ woes

In British Columbia, a method has been found to harness the work of beavers. The rodents, which were causing damage to local farmers, have been relocated to drying wetlands that they are expected to restore.

Two adult beavers building dams and floodplains in British Columbia have been relocated, causing trouble for local farmers. Now, they can create wetlands where they are needed without causing any obstruction.

One of the previously injured animals was treated at the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS). After a successful recovery process, the pair of beavers were released on the Nooaitch Indian Reserve. This location is crucial for restoring the drying wetland areas. IWRS reminded on its social media profile that the restoration of wetlands increases resistance to fires and droughts and also helps protect against floods.

The beavers were captured at landowners' request near Merritt in British Columbia. Biologist Tom Willms was entrusted with this task. In late June this year, he took the animals to the IWRS centre, with which he regularly collaborates. IWRS is an organization that is part of an environmental protection project conducted by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), as reported by the institute.

Public broadcaster CBC relayed biologists’ words emphasizing that hunting had led to a "drastic" decrease in the beaver population, which in turn contributed to the drying of wetlands. The low number of beavers means that too few floodplains are created by their dams, which maintain the moisture of the wetlands. Biologists have started rebuilding beaver-like dams themselves, and it is in these areas that unwanted animals from elsewhere are released.