Flood Control
In some situations, a device called a beaver pipe can appropriately resolve
flooding problems. Beaver pipes encounter a great deal of problems including
costs (about $700 per average culvert or dam), time required to maintain them
(at least one visit per year), and the ways beavers outsmart them. For example,
if you install a beaver pipe on one dam, the beavers may simply build a new
one farther down stream requiring yet another pipe.
Nevertheless, beaver pipe or beaver deceivers as they are some times called,
can and do work. They just don't work in every situation.
Pipes work best in the following settings:
1. There must be at least 4 feet of water depth available after the pipe is
installed in climates where the water freezes. In other words you must have
enough depth so that the beaver can still swim under the ice no matter how thick
the ice gets. You will need more depth in more northern regions.
2. There is enough land around the pond to allow for seasonal flooding.
3. There is no concern with tree damage. Pipes don't protect trees.
In any event, we recommend the following definition of what constitutes an
effective and working beaver pipe:
1. Flooding must be controlled to tolerable limits of those living around the
water shed.
2. The pipe should only need to be cleaned no more than once per week.
3. The pipe should solve the flooding problem for at least one year.
4. Sue Langlois of the MDFW stated that she would like another criterion added
namely, that the beavers stayed in the dam area after the pipe was installed.
Culvert Protection
Aside from the flooding problems that can undermine roads, engineers should
consider protecting culverts from potential beaver damming. If you don't have
a beaver control program in place through trapping, then you should strongly
consider protecting culverts with beaver pipes. The reason is a beaver can dam
inside a culvert making it very difficult to remove the damage. In some cases,
the dam became lodges in the culvert, requiring the road to be ripped up to
get access to the pipe.
If you would like to obtain technical information on beaver pipes, their design
and use visit our Books
area or just click Beaver Pipe
to get a free Adobe Acrobat version! (Long download time)
Disclaimer: WDC seeks to provide accurate, effective and responsible information
on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
and photos to simply ask for permission via e-mail. Finally, WDC welcomes
e-mail but understand that all e-mails become property of Wildlife Damage Control.
6/24/02
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