about the beaver bunkhouse. |
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What is the Beaver Bunkhouse? The purpose of the Beaver Bunkhouse is to provide a place to house ‘nuisance’ beaver when relocating them to more suitable locations. When beaver are moved from one watershed to another, the state of Utah requires that beaver undergo a 72-hour quarantine where they are determined to be healthy and allowed to get cleaned up and flushed out so they are not spreading diseases. This also provides a holding facility where beaver can wait to be relocated with other beaver from their colony, which increases the odds of a successful relocation.
The accommodations: Beaver that are live-trapped and brought to the bunkhouse are housed in custom-built kennels that mimic the comforts found in a beaver pond. Each kennel features a concrete ‘pond’ that slopes down to a deep-water area for cover (which also has a large drain for easy clean-out). The shallow part of the ‘pond’ is partially covered with plywood with a hole that leads to a ‘lodge’ set on top of the plywood. The ‘lodge’ can fit several beaver inside and is covered with a thick felted cover that is moistened to regulate the temperature for the beaver. The beaver can hide out in the lodge, under the plywood or take refuge in the deep-water area. The design makes it easy to remove plywood to access the beaver for relocation and cleaning. Each kennel also has a game camera to monitor the beaver’s health, and a thermometer to ensure it’s not too hot or cold. The check-in process: At check in, each beaver goes through a health check where they are weighed, inspected for injuries and tagged for identification. We also determine the sex of the beaver, which is not an obvious exercise. Beaver do not have typical mammalian genitalia, instead they have cloacas, similar to the anatomy of birds and reptiles. The male and female cloacas look identical, the only way to tell is by the color and smell of the excretion from their anal glands. This beaver sexing procedure is conducted on each beaver to assist in pairing beavers for release. Life at the Bunkhouse: Because beavers are nocturnal, they spend most of the day hiding away and sleeping, so we try not to disturb them except for the daily cleaning and feeding. The kennels are drained and cleaned with fresh water, the old sticks are removed and fresh water and sticks are replaced. Beavers are also given some root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and an apple as a treat. At night we observe the beavers through our cameras. They typically spend a lot of time munching on sticks and grooming but also spend time looking for a way out. As it turns out, they can be a bit of an escape artist so the facility needs to be secure. |
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How long do beaver stay at the Bunkhouse? Beaver are held at least 72 hours to fulfill the quarantine requirement, until they can be relocated with a colony or a mate. Relocated beaver have a much higher success rate if moved in pairs or colonies. If a solitary beaver is brought to the facility, we wait to see if we can catch more beaver from that colony, or try to pair with a beaver of the opposite sex. Generally, when trying to pair beavers, we observe the pair for a short time to ensure they are compatible. With all the logistics of the quarantine, matchmaking, and identifying a suitable release site, beaver typically stay at the beaver bunkhouse for about a week.
Mobile Trapping Facility: In addition to our holding facility in Millville, the USU Beaver Ecology and Relocation Center also has a mobile facility that we use when working in other locations in the state; as well as within other states where beavers are not allowed to be moved across state lines. This beaver trailer is specially modified to hold and transport beaver. It is entirely stainless steel inside to allow for easy cleaning and has a generator that runs a heating and cooling system. The trailer also has a large tank of fresh water for the beaver, holding pens, and space for a four wheeler to take the beaver to their new homes. In some cases where there are large colonies of beaver in an area we will also use temporary beaver pens made from large dog crates combined together, and we also use a small horse trough to make a pond. In addition, we create a suspended lodge to give the beavers a good place to hide and sleep during the day
Relocating Beaver:
Mobile Trapping Facility: In addition to our holding facility in Millville, the USU Beaver Ecology and Relocation Center also has a mobile facility that we use when working in other locations in the state; as well as within other states where beavers are not allowed to be moved across state lines. This beaver trailer is specially modified to hold and transport beaver. It is entirely stainless steel inside to allow for easy cleaning and has a generator that runs a heating and cooling system. The trailer also has a large tank of fresh water for the beaver, holding pens, and space for a four wheeler to take the beaver to their new homes. In some cases where there are large colonies of beaver in an area we will also use temporary beaver pens made from large dog crates combined together, and we also use a small horse trough to make a pond. In addition, we create a suspended lodge to give the beavers a good place to hide and sleep during the day
Relocating Beaver:
for more information:
living with beaverBeavers are unique in the way they alter their environment to create their ideal habitat. However, their alterations can cause human-wildlife conflicts. Find out here how to minimize the risk of damage while still allowing beaver to create beneficial ecosystems.
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trapping & relocating beaverWhen the best option is to remove beaver from an area, look here for more information about live trapping. Contact us for more information.
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