For those of us who have done our homework Don Maclean’s column is kind of a non-story. But recognizing that this columnist is writing from Nova Scotia makes us pretty excited. We’re grading on a curve and that side of Canada is notoriously slow to acknowledge beaver benefits. Nearby PEI once argued adamantly with Rickipedia that beavers weren’t even native. So, given that background, this is a pretty exciting article.
COLUMN: Beaver dams have effect on trout location
I recently spent some time looking at a beaver dam on a small stream near my house.
While beavers often do some damage with their dams they also play an important role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Most people are familiar with beavers, and beaver dams. They are often a nuisance when they dam bridges and culverts and many anglers feel their dams also serve as a barrier to fish migration in small streams. This may be the case during low flows but usually in the fall, when fish are moving upstream to spawn, water flows are higher and most fish manage to get over or through them.
Beavers build dams to provide more water for them to build their houses and to store feed for the winter. I find beaver dams very interesting as they use local materials to build structures which are incredibly effective at holding water.
Ponds created by the dams are often deep. This depth provides protection for fish as well as a refuge from warm stream temperatures. In my experience many of these ponds also tend to have good populations of aquatic insects and leeches, all great sources of food for fish.
Yes, beaver dams have increased invertebrates to feed fish. And the water is deeper so it doesn’t freeze solid. This article sounds like something written by a man surrounded by nonbelievers and should actually be titled “No wait, hear me out!” Obviously Nova Scotia is thick with fishermen and bureaucrats who think beaver dams are bad for fish (even though we and NOAA know better). I can practically see him with his hands raised to protect his head from all the tomatoes getting thrown. He ends with a hurried reference to Giardiasis just to show he is still one of the boys.
We understand, Don. It is hard to be the first one in the cave who sees the benefits of fire. But someday they’ll all want it. Trust me.
