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They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators. When they come across a culvert (or bridge), they will block it, eventually overtop

They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators. When they come across a culvert (or bridge), they will block it, eventually overtopping roads and washing them out.

arthurbrown 15d ago
Thanks for the good faith reply. I can see that this would require regular maintenance. It is interesting that we see our infrastructure as 'valid' or correct, but the work these engineers (beavers) put in as a nuisance. In an ideal world, the benefits to local biodiversity and ecosystem health should be balanced with the cost of relocating roads when necessary.
- destitude 14d ago
  There are many ways to prevent blockage of culverts and even control the water level behind beaver dams it's just that people don't want to bother, are ignorant, or just don't care.
  - cmrdporcupine 14d ago
    You'd be amazed at how ingenious they are. It's a constant war at my parent's place to stop them from blocking the culverts. It drives beavers absolutely mad to hear the sound of free flowing water from an area they've colonized. They will work themselves into a fit trying to plug it up. My dad is a crazy old German retired machinist/tool&die maker. I think he enjoys the challenge. Not everyone would.
giardini 15d ago
Is there no more demand for beaver pelt and/or meat? I've heard the tail is particularly tasty and easy to skin and cook.
- destitude 14d ago
  No, the people I know that trap them because someone hired them to remove them just dump them.
  - cmrdporcupine 14d ago
    My dad shoots one or two every couple years to keep the population down. But leaves them dumped because actually there's lots of scavengers that appreciate the meal. No free food lasts long out in the woods.
bluefirebrand 15d ago
> They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators Maybe part of the problem is that humans in North America are largely not hunting beavers anymore? We're very capable of being the predators that keep animal populations in check, and plenty of people do still hunt, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone hunting beavers in my life
- lukas099 14d ago
  I do believe people still hunt beaver, but they usually trap them instead of shooting. When I got my hunting license, part of the safety course was about trapping. The impression I got from that was that trapping is basically torturing animals to death and infinitely worse than shooting them with rifles.
alex_suzuki 15d ago
> They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators. Just like our fellow humans. Godzilla to the rescue!
destitude 14d ago
There are simple devices that can easily prevent blockage of culverts.

They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators. When they come across a culvert (or bridge), they will block it, eventually overtopping roads and washing them out.

arthurbrown 15d ago

Thanks for the good faith reply. I can see that this would require regular maintenance. It is interesting that we see our infrastructure as 'valid' or correct, but the work these engineers (beavers) put in as a nuisance. In an ideal world, the benefits to local biodiversity and ecosystem health should be balanced with the cost of relocating roads when necessary.

destitude 14d ago
There are many ways to prevent blockage of culverts and even control the water level behind beaver dams it's just that people don't want to bother, are ignorant, or just don't care.
- cmrdporcupine 14d ago
  You'd be amazed at how ingenious they are. It's a constant war at my parent's place to stop them from blocking the culverts. It drives beavers absolutely mad to hear the sound of free flowing water from an area they've colonized. They will work themselves into a fit trying to plug it up. My dad is a crazy old German retired machinist/tool&die maker. I think he enjoys the challenge. Not everyone would.

giardini 15d ago

Is there no more demand for beaver pelt and/or meat? I've heard the tail is particularly tasty and easy to skin and cook.

destitude 14d ago
No, the people I know that trap them because someone hired them to remove them just dump them.
- cmrdporcupine 14d ago
  My dad shoots one or two every couple years to keep the population down. But leaves them dumped because actually there's lots of scavengers that appreciate the meal. No free food lasts long out in the woods.

bluefirebrand 15d ago

> They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators Maybe part of the problem is that humans in North America are largely not hunting beavers anymore? We're very capable of being the predators that keep animal populations in check, and plenty of people do still hunt, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone hunting beavers in my life

lukas099 14d ago
I do believe people still hunt beaver, but they usually trap them instead of shooting. When I got my hunting license, part of the safety course was about trapping. The impression I got from that was that trapping is basically torturing animals to death and infinitely worse than shooting them with rifles.

alex_suzuki 15d ago

> They will continue to breed, expanding territory unless there are predators. Just like our fellow humans. Godzilla to the rescue!

destitude 14d ago

There are simple devices that can easily prevent blockage of culverts.