Have you ever wondered what exactly beavers do when they come across your pond? Do their activities do any harm or do they do anything to help improve the pond?
The short answer is: It depends. Beavers can have both a positive or negative influence on any pond, depending on the specific circumstances.

Positive impacts:

  1. Habitat creation: Pond Beavers can create new habitats for wildlife, such as fish, frogs, birds, deer, small mammals, etc.
  2. Soil and water conservation: Beavers can, in certain circumstances, help to conserve soil and water by reducing runoff and improving water quality through their dam-building activities. This includes catching soil runoff and allowing it to settle, mitigating sedimentation throughout a pond.
  3. Wildlife viewing: Many people simply enjoy viewing wildlife on their property.
Negative impacts:

  1. Flood Related Property Damage: Pond Beavers can cause flooding by building dams and/or sealing off an existing outlet structure such as a standpipe or culvert. While rare, beavers have been known to seal off even large siphon systems.
  2. Loss of Vegetation Leading to Erosion : Beavers will damage/destroy woody vegetation in pursuit of food and dam-building materials. Additionally, their burrows and slides often create issues with bank stability. Such instances can further increase erosion issues and potentially compromise dam integrity if left unchecked.
In conclusion, the impact of beavers on a private pond can be both positive, negative or a combination of both. If you have, or suspect you have, a beaver problem on your property, it is critical to consult professionals and consider humane and environmentally-friendly solutions to mitigate any potential issues. We offer a variety of inspection services and solutions to help in these instances. Please reach out to us so that we may assist you with your needs. We are happy to help.

Tyler N
BS, Natural Resources Management
Aquatic Environmental Services