Planning ahead can go a long way toward alleviating future conflicts with beaver. The easiest way to avoid conflicts with beaver is to avoid altering the riparian area and floodplain adjacent to streams. Even if these areas no longer contain native riparian vegetation, they are still vulnerable to flooding should the stream become obstructed by a beaver dam. And in the absence of their preferred native riparian vegetation, beaver will chew down your ornamental landscaping if its easily accessible from the stream. In some cases, they may even take boards from a fence in order to build their dams. By planning for the presence of beaver (even if there are currently no signs of them in the area), you can avoid a lot of frustration later. Here are some tips:

Stay High and Dry

When beaver build dams, they spread out the water across the stream and into the floodplain. The resultant beaver ponds can quickly change a dry streambank or floodplain into a complex wetland teeming with life. If you've built your driveway, house, or fence in these low-lying areas, you will constantly be battling to keep them above water and mitigating damage whenever the water levels rise. When building on a streamside property, the best advice when it comes to beaver is to keep development to high ground, avoiding building in or paving low lying areas which may become flooded if a beaver family moves in next door.

Modify Affected Structures and Infrastructure

Sometimes it's possible to modify structures rather than interfere with beaver activity. While this may seem more costly upfront, it can save money over the long term because you'll likely only have to do it once (whereas beaver are going to keep coming back and causing the same issue over and over again if you have suitable habitat present). A fence or trail that is regularly flooded should be rerouted or elevated to avoid inundation. Portable sheds, greenhouses, benches, picnic tables, etc. should be moved to higher ground to avoid damage when waters rise. When updating or replacing things like culverts, bridges, or stormwater infrastructure, consider what might be impacted if beaver move in to your neighborhood stream, build dams, and back up water. Then plan and design your projects accordingly. Your local watershed council or environmental consultants can be contacted to assist with evaluating available habitat and potential for beaver to impact your property.