Beaver Deceiver?
In the spring of 2020, 5 "Beaver Deceivers" were donated to the NH Bureau of Trails to be utilized on beaver ponds alongside the Presidential Rail Trail in Jefferson and Randolph. Energetic beavers had built dams that flooded the ponds to a height that was threatening to overflow the rail trail. Typically, "nuisance beavers" are "removed" by trappers, the dam destroyed and the wetland drained. The trail is then rebuilt, sometimes requiring many days of work by the trail crew with heavy equipment and dozens of loads of fill, at high cost. When a new family of beavers returns to the pond, the process repeats and money is spent all over again. ...And then again.
As an alternative, a "Beaver Deceiver" device is installed in the pond. This device becomes the regulator of the pond depth, set to maintain a level that does not threaten the integrity of the trail, but also maintains the water level for the beavers and for the wetlands. There are very few Win-Win-Win-Win-Win-Win opportunities... but this is one: The trail is preserved, the beavers are alive and happy, the wetlands are preserved, the NH Bureau of Trails budget is not constantly drained by beaver issues, and trail users can enjoy watching the beavers, the waterfowl, the frogs and turtles. The xNHAT decided that this was a good investment of donor contributions.
Skip Lisle, of Beaver Deceiver LLC, has managed to outsmart the beavers with his invention. The excess water exits the pond not by overflow of the dam, but by an intake pipe located below the surface of the water. Water exits the pond via a covered, drain located below the water's surface and a large diameter black pipe. The key is that it is a silent draining process. Beavers cannot stand to hear running water, and will dam it up in an overnight. Because the water exiting the pond via the deceiver is silent, the beavers have no reason to dam it up. For more info, see Skip's website: beaverdeceivers.com/the-solution/
At present, the xNHAT has donated 5 Beaver Deceivers for use in ponds that abut the Presidential Rail Trail. There are 4 more Beaver Deceivers along the rail trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. There are more ponds alongside this rail trail, and if beaver activity in a pond threatens the trail, another Beaver Deceiver could be installed for yet another Win-Win-Win-Win-Win success story! Your donations will be used for this investment.
In the spring of 2020, 5 "Beaver Deceivers" were donated to the NH Bureau of Trails to be utilized on beaver ponds alongside the Presidential Rail Trail in Jefferson and Randolph. Energetic beavers had built dams that flooded the ponds to a height that was threatening to overflow the rail trail. Typically, "nuisance beavers" are "removed" by trappers, the dam destroyed and the wetland drained. The trail is then rebuilt, sometimes requiring many days of work by the trail crew with heavy equipment and dozens of loads of fill, at high cost. When a new family of beavers returns to the pond, the process repeats and money is spent all over again. ...And then again.
As an alternative, a "Beaver Deceiver" device is installed in the pond. This device becomes the regulator of the pond depth, set to maintain a level that does not threaten the integrity of the trail, but also maintains the water level for the beavers and for the wetlands. There are very few Win-Win-Win-Win-Win-Win opportunities... but this is one: The trail is preserved, the beavers are alive and happy, the wetlands are preserved, the NH Bureau of Trails budget is not constantly drained by beaver issues, and trail users can enjoy watching the beavers, the waterfowl, the frogs and turtles. The xNHAT decided that this was a good investment of donor contributions.
Skip Lisle, of Beaver Deceiver LLC, has managed to outsmart the beavers with his invention. The excess water exits the pond not by overflow of the dam, but by an intake pipe located below the surface of the water. Water exits the pond via a covered, drain located below the water's surface and a large diameter black pipe. The key is that it is a silent draining process. Beavers cannot stand to hear running water, and will dam it up in an overnight. Because the water exiting the pond via the deceiver is silent, the beavers have no reason to dam it up. For more info, see Skip's website: beaverdeceivers.com/the-solution/
At present, the xNHAT has donated 5 Beaver Deceivers for use in ponds that abut the Presidential Rail Trail. There are 4 more Beaver Deceivers along the rail trail in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. There are more ponds alongside this rail trail, and if beaver activity in a pond threatens the trail, another Beaver Deceiver could be installed for yet another Win-Win-Win-Win-Win success story! Your donations will be used for this investment.
BEFORE: That's a Big Damn Dam! Note that the water level near the bike is creeping onto the rail trail. This alerts the NH Bureau of Trails, and they hire trappers to "remove" the beavers. This action triggered the xNHAT to run in with the offer of a Beaver Deceiver. The NH Bureau of Trails cancelled the trappers, the Beaver Deceiver was installed and the beavers are now happily working in their pond and are not currently hats.
DURING: Here is the equipment utilized to construct a Beaver Deceiver. Most of this is located underwater where you cannot see it. The height of the pipe outlet end regulates the water level of the pond, NOT the beavers and their dam. The cost for this Beaver Deceiver and installation was $2500, should be a good investment for a long lasting solution.
AFTER: The water level is regulated so that the trail is dry, the pond is full but not overflowing, the beavers are happy, the wetland is preserved, the Bureau of Trails saves money and the xNHAT has made a good investment with donation money!