Working together to co-exist with Calgary’s beavers

Calgary, AB – Wildlife advocates, conservationists and City workers came together today in Griffith Woods for a common purpose – to learn additional techniques on how to successfully co-exist with beavers.

Members of the Fur-Bearers, the Miistakis Institute and Cows and Fish - Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, worked with staff from The City of Calgary, MD of Foothills and other municipalities and regional organizations to learn methods for controlling water levels in dammed areas and prevent water outflows from being blocked.

“Beavers play a very important role in our ecosystem, including urban areas,” says Adrian Nelson, The Fur-Bearers wildlife conflict manager. “They can be extremely beneficial for creating wetlands that are habitat for plants and wildlife, and for storing water during drought or absorbing it during minor floods.”

However, urban beavers also present some unique challenges. “In an urban setting, there are no natural predators for beavers,” says Tanya Hope, City of Calgary Parks Ecologist. “Their numbers can grow quickly, and they can sometimes cause damage to property or infrastructure. We sometimes need to take measures to prevent damage, and the tools we are learning today will be very valuable to us.”

Though the groups have different mandates, ultimately their aim is the same. “We’re all here today because we believe there are ways to successfully co-exist with beavers in the city,” says Rachelle Haddock, project manager with the Miistakis Institute.

For more information about beaver management at The City, please visit calgary.ca.

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