A family of beavers has moved to Stratford. The neighbours are delighted, and the muskrats are overjoyed!
But time is short for this family, because Environment Canada plans to trap and kill them.
The beaver is recognized as a keystone species in Ontario. Like the last stone that locks in place all other stones in an arch, the beaver helps make an ecosystem strong and stable, maintaining the habitat for many other plants and animals. Stratford’s beaver dam has already created a mini wetlands area, benefitting other species, but it has also raised water levels.
Environment Canada (EC) runs a water level monitoring station at Line 111 and the Avon. As a result of the dam, the water level data has been inconsistent. EC reports the level data to the Local Conservation Authority, who until the recent changes in Doug Ford’s Bill 23, were responsible for the wetlands and the entire watershed.
Environment Canada hired a local trapper, who in turn placed underwater traps to kill the beavers. He has now left the area, but we do not know if he successfully killed them.
There are ways to mitigate the slight rise in water levels caused by the beavers’ dam. One way is to provide hidden drainage through a fake log (called a beaver deceiver) to prevent water from exceeding acceptable levels. Arguments were being made to Environment Canada, but we don’t know if they were successful.
We did contact the Conservation Authority (they were unaware of EC’s plans), the City of Stratford (also unaware), and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, also unaware. Also spoke with our MP’s office (John Nater) as it is a federal matter. They were unaware.
Trapping Beaver is permitted in Ontario, with the permission of the land owner.
If you would like to contribute your thoughts on beaver removal to Environment Canada, the contacts are below. The comments section for this post is also open, also below.
CONTACT ENVIRONMENT CANADA
1 800-622-6232
The EC Supervisor is Alton Stead, and his number is 905-317-1912. Social media contacts are linked below.
Is this correct? Beavers, a keystone species that provide many benefits to the environment, are going to be *killed*??? And not just relocated?? OR accepted where they are??
Seeking verification, because this doesn’t seem logical. If one family of beavers is killed, what’s to stop another family of beavers moving into the vacated territory?
This is not a solution — surely, we can get more creative and thoughtful than just killing them, creating a vacuum in the territory, and then doing the same thing over and over with another family of beavers?
A little environmental education seems to be called for here, and some more thoughtful solutions.
I’m afraid it is correct. We found out about the traps a couple of days ago. As the article says, we called the City, the Conservation Authority, and John Nater’s office. Nobody knew anything about it. We do know that Environment Canada is involved. It may be because there are some concerns about water levels (but as we said in the article, this can be dealt with). We know the traps have now been removed, but so far we haven’t been able to find out if this is because the beavers have been killed, or whether Environment Canada has gotten our message. A call the the Environment Canada employee listed at the end of the article is about the only way we can find out, and so far they haven’t answered us back.
Some humane options exist …
Please see https://thefurbearers.com/downloads/PDFs/Beaver%20Book%20-%202019-10-08%20The%20Fur-Bearers.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1tPT2AN2NWogbn-lNmz4q38LUQ_0Rdh0_dhJKyrBikngTC2ES4e2dlZf8
Thanks, Tamara, what a great resource! We should start a list of wildlife resources, and this will be on it.
The Fur Bearers were an immense help in our struggle with beaver management in Belleville! Reach out to them. – https://thefurbearers.com/
Also check out
– https://beaverdeceivers.com/
– https://www.beaverinstitute.org/
Closer to home, the City of London seems quite progressive in it’s management of beaver conflicts.
You will find wealth of “beaver believers” who have gone through similar experiences to yours and are willing to help!
Thank you so much for the resources. I promise you, these will be seen by the right people.
Here is another excellent resource – https://www.animalalliance.ca/campaigns/wildcompassion/beaver-manual_may-2016-2/
Your sad tale is unfortunately very familiar to me. We stumbled upon a botched trapping in Belleville nearly 5 years ago and despite a continual struggle for better coexistence practices, our City has settled back to its old comfortable ways – Belleville trapped 18 beavers last year!?
I wish you luck, but you are up against a very entrenched foe!
I have embarked on a documentary production that looks at the struggle for beaver coexistence happening across Canada and the entire northern hemisphere. You can see our local experience in this early version – https://vimeo.com/322279786
Why, why, why would you kill these beautiful creatures?
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority does not approve of trapping. Environment Canada is going against their values.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-ca/takeaction/597/446/638/?sign%5Bcustom_1%5D=
We’re still talking with the Conservation Authority. The traps were laid within the Stratford City limits. Working on it.
leave them alone…first the geese now the beavers…I cant beleive what this city is turning into…these animals are part of the beauty of stratford.
To be fair, the City can’t be blamed for this one. We think Environment Canada did this on their own. The City wasn’t even notified. We’re still working to find out what happened, but Environment Canada is pretty slow getting back to us.
Email Alton.stead@ec.gc.ca
Shame on you Canadian Government!
I only wish you were more educated on topics in which you govern.
Do you know that once you remove this family of beavers, there will be another family moving in shortly after. Please sit down and make your decisions carefully. I’m sure there are many more sites to help you with your water monitoring system? Be the better person and relocate your site. Make Canadians proud of you again. You have lost so much support already, this is a great step to gain ground back.
Regards,
Kim