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Identify
Nuisance Wildlife
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Beavers
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Description
& Habitat
The
beaver is bulky (typically
40-50 pounds) with light and dark
patches of fur, a large,
paddle-shaped tail, and small dark eyes.
The front feet are small with
long, sharp, curved
toe-nails
while the hind feet are large and
webbed. Beavers live in
streams, rivers, marshes, and lakes. Every
area
in the state that has suitable
food sources located
near permanent water
is potential beaver
habitat.
Disease
Tularemia
- A bacterial disease
associated with various animal
species especially beavers,
rabbits, and rodents.
Tularemia occurs year-round
throughout the United States
and in Colorado, two seasonal
peaks, the first in May and
another in October. People can
contract tularemia
by handling
infected animal carcasses,
eating or drinking
contaminated food or water, or breathing in
F. tularensis.
Symptoms could include sudden
fever/chills, headaches,
muscle aches, cough,
progressive weakness, and
pneumonia. If treated quickly
with the
appropriate antibiotics,
this potentially fatal disease
is curable. Rubber
gloves should be worn when handling beavers or
working
where they live. Also, avoid
drinking untreated water.
Giardiasis
- This disease, found in
beavers and other animals
is a
diarrheal illness caused by a
one-celled, microscopic
parasite that lives in the intestine of
people and animals. It has
become recognized as one of the most common
causes of waterborne disease
(drinking and recreational) in
humans in the United States.
The symptoms associated with
giardiasis range from none (in
light infections) to severe,
chronic diarrhea. Giardia
may be found in soil, food,
water, or surfaces that have been contaminated.
To
protect yourself, practice
good hygiene and avoid drinking or eating
anything that may be contaminated.
Boiling
or filtering water removes
the organisms that
cause this disease.
For
more information on these
diseases contact:
The
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
at 800-311-3435
or e-mail them at:
http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Damage
Human and
beaver goals often conflict
and although they provide
ecological benefits, these
benefits must be weighed
against threats to human
interests like agriculture,
transportation, and even
endangered species
conservation. Economic
estimates of beaver damage in Colorado are not available,
but timber, crops, ornamental
plants, and even buildings
have been damaged by beaver. Beaver dams may block drainage
systems and flood roads,
crops, and timberland.
Primary and secondary water source contamination. Beavers cause millions of
dollars of damage annually. Liability issues can arise to half
chewed trees on your property that have become dangerous.
Damage
Control
Fencing
and water control methods
maybe a suitable form of prevention,
however if beavers have
established themselves and are
causing damage, they may need
to be removed. Landowners
have used various methods -
many of which were
unsuccessful - to eliminate
beaver on their land. Research
conducted on the development of
reproductive inhibitors and
practical poisoning have not
proven successful. Trapping
remains an effective means of reducing
beaver populations has been
demonstrated many times
throughout the history and range of the
beaver.
ADC
Solutions
Tree loss?
Colorado's beavers are busier than ever, much to the dismay
of some landowners.
Animal
Damage Control uses
trapping as an effective
and humane
solution to your nuisance beaver
problem. Beavers
can be trapped year round, relocation is permitted but requires a
relocation permit obtained by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and can
only be use to relocate beavers from June thru September. Beavers
are not an endangered species, if relocate able ADC will relocate.
If you
are
one of the many whose trees are
destroyed...
Call Us, We Can
Help!
For expert advice and solutions
to nuisance wildlife problems,
Call
Us Now!
Office:
303-884-9100
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