'Nuisance' beavers relocated, put to work in dried-up watershed

A pair of "nuisance" beavers that were causing flooding and damaging trees on farms near Merritt, B.C., have had their talents redirected elsewhere — a nearby dried-up watershed. 

The beavers — named Thor and Edda by their rehabilitators — were dubbed nuisances by farm owners after doing what beavers do: eating trees and diverting water. 

They were removed in late June, and after a few weeks of rehabilitation, were released in the Nicola watershed, on Nooaitch First Nation land earlier this week. 

"They are going to be released to do their good work of beavering ... and building wetlands," said Eva Hartmann, executive director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Summerland. 

LISTEN | A short documentary about the beavers' release: 

Radio West8:40A pair of nuissance beavers are returning to the Nicola Valley to help restore the wetlands on the Nooaitch First Nation

A pair of nuissance beavers are returning to the Nicola Valley to help restore the wetlands on the Nooaitch First Nation

Hartmann says beavers lived in the watershed historically, but the population had drastically diminished due to trapping, as is the case in much of the province. As a result, the wetlands have dried up. According to Parks Canada, beavers create wetlands by constructing dams, which store water, and by creating ponds.

Now, a project run by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), in partnership with the rehabilitation society and the Nooaitch First Nation, aims to put the beavers to work restoring the watershed. 

"Beavers are good partners if they're in the right place at the right time," said Hartmann. 

Although they were trapped separately, Edda and Thor appeared to know each other and got along when introduced in the rehabilitation facility, said Hartmann. 

Hartmann said they try to release beavers in groups or pairs to increase their chance of success in their new home. After that, they are left to their own devices. 

"Let beavers beave," said Hartmann. 

'Win-win for everybody'

Tom Willms, the biologist at NVIT leading the conservation project, says beavers play an important role in restoring ecosystems, particularly by constructing dams and creating ponds.

Not only does this benefit the fish that reside in the waters, but it also can help mitigate the effects of floods, drought, and wildfires, Willms said. 

In the watershed, his team has built human versions of beaver dams, and are reintroducing beavers to them. 

WATCH | The beavers are released into the wild: 

A heartwarming beaver tale

5 months ago

Duration 2:56

They're about as iconically Canadian as you can get. Got a nickel, there's the beaver. Want a snack, how about a beaver tail? The logo of the iconic Hudson's Bay Company, you got it, a beaver. But not everyone is as enamoured with the large rodent. However, one person's problem beaver could be another person's beaver solution. Now the tale, pun intended, of some relocated beavers and their new job.

They released Thor and Edda in a tributary that is important for salmon and steelhead, where beavers historically lived, according to Willms. 

"We put them into an old beaver pond up there and they looked pretty happy, so it was a good day," said Willms. 

Since the team began moving beavers last year, Willms's team has relocated nine beavers to the watershed, all nuisance beavers taken from private properties. 

"It's really nice to be able to take some of these critters, that can be really destructive in terms of human infrastructure, and give them a new purpose," said Willms. 

"I think it's a win-win for everybody."