WAT E R F O W L M A N AG E M E N T H A N D B O O K

13.4.7. Managing
Beaver to Benefit
Waterfowl

James K. Ringelman of beaver populations and their responsiveness to

Colorado Division of Wildlife management techniques. I review some techniques
317 West Prospect Road useful for managing beaver populations and
Fort Collins, CO 80526 enhancing beaver habitats to benefit waterfowl,
and explain the ecological relations and
characteristics that make beaver ponds attractive
Aside from humans, no other organism has the waterfowl habitats.
capacity to modify its environment as much as the
beaver. In doing so, beaver create wetlands that
provide valuable waterfowl habitats. Because Beaver Ponds as Breeding
beavers are widely distributed in North America Habitats for Waterfowl
(Fig. 1), beaver ponds can benefit waterfowl during
breeding, migrating, and wintering periods.
Ecological Relations
Mismanaged beaver populations, however, can
severely degrade riparian habitats and become a Most of the important habitats created by
costly problem. The key to successfully managing beaver and used by breeding waterfowl are north of
beaver for waterfowl benefits is understanding the 40° latitude in the mixed hardwoods–coniferous
values of beaver ponds in meeting the seasonal forests of the Northeast, in the montane habitats of
needs of waterfowl. Beaver populations must then the West, in parklands and the Precambrian Shield
regions of southern Canada, and in the boreal and
be managed to provide these benefits in a
subarctic forests of northern Canada. Beaver ponds
self-sustaining manner compatible with the
in these regions are attractive to most dabbling
carrying capacity of the habitat.
duck species, particularly American black ducks,
Before the arrival of Europeans, 60–400 million
mallards, and green-winged teal. Hooded
beavers occupied 5.8 million square miles of North mergansers, ring-necked ducks, common
America. But by 1900, beavers had been so goldeneyes, and buffleheads are common diving
severely over-exploited by trappers and hunters duck species found on beaver ponds. Beaver ponds
that they were almost extinct. Today, beaver also provide important breeding habitat for wood
populations are on the upswing: 6 million to 12 ducks throughout their breeding range.
million animals occupy diverse habitats ranging A beaver colony is defined as a group of beavers
from the boreal forests of Canada south to the occupying a pond or stretch of stream, using a
Texas gulf coast, and from California’s Central common food supply, and maintaining a common
Valley east to the Atlantic seaboard. This recent dam or dams. An average of one or two beaver
population increase is a testament to the resiliency colonies per mile occur along suitable streams and

Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991 1

Fig. 1. Range of the beaver in North America. Modified from Novak 1987.

rivers. Each colony usually contains four to eight streams usually are narrow with high gradients
beavers. Their activities, most notably the creation and an undependable water supply, and therefore
of ponds by flooding of riparian habitats and receive little use. Conversely, many streams
removal of woody vegetation, may influence 20 to greater than fourth-order often flood in spring,
40% of the total length of second- to fourth-order destroying on-channel beaver dams. On these
streams and may remain as part of the landscape streams and rivers, beaver activities are mostly
for centuries. Unexploited beaver populations can confined to banks, backwater wetlands, and
create as many as 26 ponds per mile of stream floodplains. Beavers commonly occupy natural
length in suitable habitats, but typically the lakes and glacial depressions, such as kettle ponds,
number of ponds ranges from three to six per mile. throughout their range.
Most stream sections used by beaver have valley Availability of food is the most important biotic
slopes of 1 to 6%, and of the remaining use, constraint to beaver distribution. In northern
one-quarter occurs along sections with 7 to 12% regions, beavers annually cut at least a ton of
slope. Beavers generally do not occupy streams forage. Usually, they take food resources closest to
where valley slopes exceed 15%. Suitability of a their lodge or bank dens first. Most food is gathered
site also increases with valley width. First-order within 100 yards of their pond. Although they will

2 Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991

consume a wide range of woody and herbaceous five times greater than in stream riffle sites,
plants, beaver prefer quaking aspen, cottonwood, ranging from 1,000 to 6,800 organisms per square
willow, alder, maple, birch, and cherry, foot and from 0.1 to 1 gram per square foot,
supplemented by herbaceous emergents such as depending on the season. Moreover, the structure
sedges and floating-leaved vegetation, including of invertebrate communities is changed as
pondweeds and waterlilies. In agricultural areas, running-water taxa are replaced by pond taxa,
they consume a wide variety of crops such as corn which are more readily exploited by waterfowl.
and soybeans. Riparian zones dominated by These aquatic invertebrates make up the protein
deciduous tree species preferred by beaver may be food base so important to laying females and to
virtually clear-cut. An important effect of removing growing ducklings.
this tree canopy is an increase in the density and The structural characteristics of beaver ponds
height of the grass–forb–shrub layer, which also are attractive to breeding waterfowl. Habitat
enhances waterfowl nesting cover adjacent to diversity increases as beaver flood lands and open
ponds. Additionally, the deep channels created by forest canopies. The flooded area under the tree
beaver to help transport food within the pond canopy and underlying shrub layer provides lateral
provide travel lanes for breeding pairs and broods of and overhead cover sought by many dabbling duck
pairs and broods. Later, northern flickers and other
waterfowl.
primary excavators may create waterfowl nesting
Beaver pond complexes create a wetland
cavities in the dead trees that remain standing in
community with characteristics similar to
ponds. The “feathered edge,” typical of many
waterfowl breeding habitats on the northern Great
beaver ponds, creates shallow-water foraging areas
Plains. Most important among these characteristics
that warm quickly in early spring, and often
is a wetland complex that is usually composed of
provides sites where seeds and invertebrates can
several wetlands of varying sizes, shapes, depths,
be obtained. Beaver lodges and dams afford loafing
and successional stages. These diverse wetlands areas and nesting sites for geese, ducks, and
provide space for territorial birds to isolate sandhill cranes, depending on the degree of
themselves from individuals of the same species. vegetative concealment on the structure.
Also, as in prairie habitats, such complexes enable
breeding waterfowl to optimize their use of aquatic
resources. For example, beaver colonies in highly Management Strategies
desirable locations may persist for several decades,
Beaver ponds provide a mosaic of
and wetlands may advance to late successional
environmental conditions, dependent on pond size
stages with vegetation and aquatic invertebrate
and age, successional status, substrate, and
communities functionally similar to semipermanent
hydrologic characteristics. Hydrologic
and permanent wetlands in the prairies. Other
characteristics are especially important to
beaver ponds located on less suitable sites, or new
waterfowl managers. Controlling water levels in
ponds created by beavers dispersing from an
beaver ponds is an important but sometimes
established colony, may possess vegetative structure difficult proposition. As in any nesting habitat,
and invertebrate communities more similar to water in early spring must be sufficient to attract
temporary or seasonal prairie wetlands. Wetland and hold breeding pairs, and stable enough to
fertility, water permanency, and water temperature sustain water through the brood-rearing period.
regimes also vary within a beaver pond complex. Beaver ponds located in relatively small
In addition to increasing the quantity of watersheds, off the main channel, or with dams in
wetlands available to waterfowl, beaver enhance disrepair, may have inadequate water in early
wetland quality. Wetland fertility is increased spring. Such wetlands do not provide optimal
because much of the sediment and organic matter habitat for waterfowl. Conversely, beaver ponds
that is normally carried downstream is retained located in montane habitats far below snowline may
behind beaver dams. Beavers also add new sources fill with water from snowmelt about the time
of organic matter in the form of fecal matter and early-nesting waterfowl species complete their
the plant material they haul or fell into the pond clutches, flooding nests located around the pond
and later use as food or building material. The net margin.
effect is an increase in the nutrient base for aquatic Consider transplanting beaver to a site if water
plants and invertebrates. Total invertebrate and food are adequate, but dams are in disrepair
biomass and density in beaver ponds may be two to because beavers have abandoned the area. If water

Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991 3

flow is inadequate, examine the feasibility of
channeling water from a reliable source into the Swamped Area
pond complex. One objective of managing beaver
ponds as waterfowl breeding habitat should be to
manage ponds for seasonally stable water levels.
Existing Channel
Despite the benefits of stable water within the
breeding season, this type of water regime reduces Dam
the productivity of beaver ponds when maintained
over several years. The decline is primarily caused Plan View
by anaerobic conditions, which bind nutrients to 15 to 23 cm dia. green or water-loggged poles:
soil and organic matter, thereby making them 3 to 4 m long
Forked stake
unavailable to plants and animals. These anaerobic Ground
processes are exacerbated by the tranquil flow
regimes and high organic loads typical of beaver Flow Dam Axe holes
ponds. Artificially increasing flow rates may help
Green sticks
increase aerobic decay, but the best approach is to Tin
periodically drain or reduce the water levels in 15 to 23 cm
ponds to promote aerobic decay of organic matter logs

and to reverse wetland succession. The interval

between drawdowns is difficult to prescribe Cross Section
because the need for such action depends on the
length of the warm season, water temperature,
pond size and organic load, and water flow rates. In
low latitudes, beaver pond productivity may decline
in a few years, whereas ponds at high latitudes Welded wire
may take much longer to reach detrimental
5X10 cm
anaerobic conditions. Wooden braces
Drawing down a beaver pond is often easier
said than done, because of the natural tendency of
beavers to quickly plug any breach in their dam.
Explosives or backhoes can be used to remove
dams, but this often becomes an ongoing process
because dams are quickly reconstructed. Better
results are often achieved with beaver-resistant 06-cm Exterior
water control structures (Fig. 2), which are plywood
installed in the dam and are resistant to blockage
by beaver. Only a fraction of the wetlands in a Fig. 2. Three designs for beaver-proof water control
beaver pond complex should be dewatered during a structures: three-log drain (top), box drain (lower left),
given year to ensure adequate habitat for and perforated plastic drainpipe (lower right). From
Arner and Hepp 1989.
waterfowl and beaver in the remaining ponds.
Ponds should not be drawn down during the
brood-rearing period because young birds may
been used to “hold” transplanted beavers in new
become stranded or have to move, and become
more exposed to predators. areas until they become established, but
Managing distribution of beaver can be a supporting a beaver population by artificial feeding
challenge equal to that of controlling water levels. is an intensive and costly approach that is not
Beaver that occupy sites adjacent to private lands, recommended. A woven-wire fence, stretched
roads, or other human structures may impound across a stream channel between steel posts may
water that causes timber or crop damage or creates be installed (where legal) to encourage beavers to
a nuisance. Often, the only solution is to trap the build dams at selected sites.
offending beaver. If live-trapped, such individuals Unexploited beaver populations can create
can often be successfully transplanted to suitable numerous wetlands. With the extirpation of the
but unoccupied habitats. Supplemental feeding has gray wolf, which was a primary predator of beaver,

4 Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991

other factors such as trapping, food depletion, Open (ice-free) water, in which migrants can obtain
space, and disease have become the agents of aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds, tubers,
population control. Before these agents intercede, winter buds and rhizomes, is the most important
however, beavers may severely degrade riparian characteristic of these habitats. Beaver ponds,
and upland habitats. If unchecked, beaver however, usually are not managed for migratory
populations and associated wetlands may oscillate waterfowl except in the southeastern United
from locally abundant to scarce. Populations States, where intensive management is sometimes
exploited by trapping often remain at more used to attract fall migrants and wintering
constant levels commensurate with their food waterfowl for hunting. These areas are often
supply, their principal limitation. Field surveys are associated with hardwood bottomlands or
the most reliable means to determine the adequacy floodplain forests, where mallards and wood ducks
of remaining food resources. In good stands, 4 acres are especially common.
of quaking aspen, 12 acres of willow, or Ecological relations described for beaver pond
intermediate acreages of the two in combination breeding habitats in northern regions are similar
are adequate to support an average colony of six or identical to those in beaver ponds at southern
animals. Such indices of adequate food supply are latitudes. Successional patterns in beaver ponds in
available for most regions of the United States. If the South are similar to those in northern habitats,
managers control beaver by trapping, a general but occur more quickly. After beaver have created
rule for maintaining stable populations at permanently flooded wetlands, trees die and the
mid-latitudes (40–50°) is to remove about 25% of canopy opens, making conditions more suitable for
the fall population in willow habitat, 40% in growth of herbaceous plants or semi-aquatic
quaking aspen habitat, and 70% in cottonwood vegetation. Sediments and organic matter are
habitat. This prescription reflects the progressive retained over time, thereby decreasing pond depth.
increase in reproductive rates of beaver with Aquatic invertebrate communities develop and
decreasing altitude and climatic severity, and invertebrate biomass increases as the pond
increasing food quality and quantity. vegetation becomes established. Physical features
In forested habitats, managing upland nesting of habitat created by beaver, such as dead, standing
cover around beaver ponds is usually impractical. timber with a well-developed shrub layer, provide
Fortunately, the grass–forb–shrub cover that is excellent habitats for wood ducks and other
common near beaver ponds often provides high waterfowl to roost at night. Seed-producing annual
quality, albeit limited, waterfowl nesting habitat. plants associated with beaver ponds provide
Nest success is often relatively high because many vegetative foods important to many dabbling
forested habitats have high habitat diversity, an ducks, particularly in years when mast crops such
abundance of buffer prey species, and predator as acorns are unavailable. The wetland complex
populations that are more in balance with the created by beaver provides diverse habitats that
habitat than are those on the northern Great are readily exploited by waterfowl.
Plains. Nevertheless, nests located along travel
lanes such as dams and shorelines are more
exposed to predators. Nests located on beaver Management Strategies
lodges are often successful because such sites are Management strategies for migrating and
secure from most mammalian predators. Trampling wintering waterfowl must first consider important
by livestock and flooding also cause nest failure, but characteristics of beaver ponds: (1) those with few
flooding can be controlled by water-level emergent plant species and shallow water areas,
management techniques, and fences often minimize but with the potential for manipulating water
damage by livestock. level; (2) those with emergents and shallow water,
where water levels can be manipulated; and
(3) those with no possibilities for drainage. Ponds of
Beaver Ponds as Migratory and the first type, which are common in the Southeast,
Wintering Habitats are best managed by lowering the water level to
allow germination of seed-producing, annual plants
that are beneficial to waterfowl (Table). This
Ecological Relations technique, known as moist-soil management, relies
During spring and fall, beaver ponds are used on the timing and duration of drawdown to
by migrating waterfowl throughout North America. promote the germination and growth of seeds

Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991 5

Table. List of desirable plants that occur in beaver also can be used to control plants where such use is
ponds of the southeastern United States. permitted. Managers should make certain that
Common name Scientific name their herbicide of choice is approved for aquatic use
and is applied at proper rates by a licensed
Redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos applicator.
Millets Echinochloa spp.
Impounded areas without drainage most
Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
commonly occur in cypress–tupelo wetlands where
Duckweed Lemna spp.
Frogbit Limnobium spongia there is insufficient elevation change to use hidden
Water primrose Ludwigia leptocarpa drains. In these situations, managers may attempt
Parrotfeather Myriophyllum brasilense to enhance the vegetative composition by
Stout smartweed Polygonum densiflorum introducing beneficial aquatic plants to the pond
Nodding smartweed Polygonum lapathifolium (Table). Floating-leaved plants such as duckweed
Pondweeds Potamogeton spp. and watermeal are beneficial species that are easy
Beakrush Rhynchospora corniculata to introduce. If the overstory of trees provides too
Burreed Sparganium chlorocarpum much shade to allow aquatic plants to establish, it
Watermeal Wolffia spp.
may be beneficial to clear-cut small openings to
help vegetation become established. By
manipulating vegetative composition and
interspersion, beaver ponds can provide attractive
already in the soil. In rare instances, when winter habitats for waterfowl.
desirable aquatic vegetation is absent and the seed
bank is inadequate, commercially available seed
can be used. In Alabama, beaver ponds which were
dewatered as described earlier, and then planted Suggested Reading
with Japanese millet, have yielded 1,400–2,400
Arner, D. H., and G. R. Hepp. 1989. Beaver pond
pounds of seed per acre. Although moist-soil plants
wetlands: a southern perspective. Pages 117–128 in
typically do not attain such high seed production, L. M. Smith, R. L. Pederson, and R. M. Kaminski,
they do support high densities of aquatic eds. Habitat management for migrating and
invertebrates and provide seeds of a better wintering waterfowl in North America. Texas Tech
nutritional balance than many commercially University Press, Lubbock.
available plants. Beard, E. B. 1953. The importance of beaver in waterfowl
Beaver ponds with an abundance of desirable management at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge.
emergent plants are best left undisturbed. If J. Wildl. Manage. 17:398–436.
undesirable emergents are present, however, Johnson, R. C., J. W. Preacher, J. R. Gwaltney, and J. E.
managers can alter the vegetative composition by Kennamer. 1975. Evaluation of habitat manipulation
for ducks in an Alabama beaver pond complex. Proc.
water-level manipulations, mechanical
Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game Fish Comm.
disturbance, burning, or herbicide application. 29:512–518.
Water-level control is most easily achieved with Longley, W. H., and J. B. Moyle. 1963. The beaver in
beaver-proof control structures (Fig. 2). Mechanical Minnesota. Minn. Dep. Conserv., Tech. Bull. 6. 87 pp.
disturbances and burning share the common Naiman, R. J., C. A. Johnston, and J. C. Kelley. 1988.
objective of retarding vegetation succession and Alteration of North American streams by beaver.
opening dense stands of vegetation. These Bioscience 38:753–762.
management activities are usually conducted in Novak, M. 1987. Beaver. Pages 282–313 in M. Novak,
late winter or early spring after water is drawn J. A. Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Malloch, eds. Wild
down. To effectively change plant composition, furbearer management and conservation in North
America. Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario,
burning or mechanical treatments must damage
Canada.
roots of plants. Usually, this requires dry soil Renouf, R. N. 1972. Waterfowl utilization of beaver ponds
conditions, so that heavy mechanical equipment in New Brunswick. J. Wildl. Manage. 36:740–744.
can be operated in the pond. If fire is used, heat Yeager, L. E., and W. H. Rutherford. 1957. An ecological
must be sufficient to penetrate to root level. basis for beaver management in the Rocky Mountain
Herbicides such as Dalapon, Banvel, and Rodeo region. Trans. North Am. Wildl. Conf. 22:269–300.

6 Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.4.7. • 1991

Appendix. List of Common and Scientific Names of Plants and Ani-
mals Named in Text.
Animals
Wood duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aix sponsa
Green-winged teal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anas crecca
Mallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anas platyrhynchos
American black duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anas rubripes
Ring-necked duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aythya collaris
Common goldeneye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bucephala clangula
Bufflehead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bucephala albeola
Gray wolf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canis lupus
Beaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Castor canadensis
Northern flicker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colaptes auratus
Sandhill crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grus canadensis
Hooded merganser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lophodytes cucullatus

Plants
Maple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acer spp.
Alder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alnus spp.
Birch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betula spp.
Sedges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carex spp.
Japanese millet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Echinochloa crusgalli
Rushes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juncus spp.
Duckweed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lemna spp.
Waterlily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nymphaea spp.
Tupelo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nyssa aquatica
Cottonwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Populus spp.
Quaking aspen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Populus tremuloides
Pondweeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Potamogeton spp.
Cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prunus spp.
Willow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salix spp.
Baldcypress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taxodium distichum
Watermeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wolffia spp.

Note: Use of trade names does not imply U.S. Government endorsement of commercial products.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13
Washington, D.C. • 1991