Just in time for the holidays our old friend and city of Belleville Canada has declared its war on beavers to protect infrastructure. You might remember they were the city that cleverly decided to trap beaver in the hometown of video editor Doug Knutson of Windswept films. Well they haven’t waivered in their beaverless wisdom on bit.

Keeping beavers away from infrastructure

The City of Belleville has a policy for trapping animals that may pose a threat to residents, infrastructure and private property.

Over the last year, 18 beavers were humanely trapped and moved.

At Monday’s meeting, city council will receive the annual report from the Transportation and Operations Services Department on the use of animal traps in the city. This annual report is compiled in accordance with the city’s Humane Wildlife Conflict Policy which includes the humane treatment of wildlife while protecting city property.

In most cases the animals were blocking storm sewers. Such incidents happened in the area of Cascade Boulevard, College Street West, Stanley Park, Mudcat Road and Harmony Road.Beavers were also removed from George Street due to tree cutting and safety concerns. The following is a list of locations and quantities of beavers trapped from December 2021, up to December 6, 2022

You know just because a beaver is chewing a tree on College street doesn’t mean you trap and kill it “humanely” on college street. I’m sure there would be a lot of unhappy dog owners if that was the case. No, traps are set in the water, so beavers can humanely drown and usually right at the entrance to their lodge so they can be humanely killed on their way home after a hard nights work.

1. December 13, 2021 Cascade Blvd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
2. December 14, 2021 Cascade Blvd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
3. December 17, 2021 S. George St Beaver Tree cutting – safety concerns on trail
4. December 18, 2021 S. George St Beaver Tree cutting – safety concerns on trail
   
5. December 20, 2021 S. George St Beaver Tree cutting – safety concerns on trail
6. December 21, 2021 S. George St Beaver Tree cutting – safety concerns on trail
   
7. December 22, 2021 S. George St Beaver Tree cutting – safety concerns on trail
   
8. April 5, 2022 Stanley Park Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
9. April 20, 2022 500 College St W Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
10. April 22, 2022 501 College St W Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
11. April 27, 2022 502 College St W Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
12. August 16, 2022 Mudcat Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
13. August 19, 2022 Mudcat Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
14. August 22, 2022 Mudcat Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
15. August 26, 2022 Mudcat Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
16. September 3, 2022 Mudcat Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
17. October 20, 2022 Harmony Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure
18. October 21, 2022 Harmony Rd Beaver Blocking storm sewer infrastructure

Gosh any solution that you have to try 18 times in a single year  seems like it might not be very good? You might want to think about trying something new Belleville. Something wild and crazy and unheard of in your parts.

Like maybe wrapping trees with wire and installing a flow device. Here’s a pretty basic explanation from a hunter buddy of Art Wolinsky.

Dam Beavers – DocFest version from Windswept Productions on Vimeo.