Installing wire cages around the trunk of a single tree or wire fencing around multiple smaller trees and/or shrubs can be very effective at deterring beaver, if done properly.

Materials/Instructions:

• Arrange welded mesh wire in a circle around the trunk(s)/stem(s) that you want to protect and securely fasten the ends together. If needed you can cut the bottom of the fence to fit a sloping ground or to protect prominent roots from chewing.

• Make sure the mesh wire is heavy enough to prevent beaver from chewing through it and flexible enough for this application. Four-foot tall galvanized garden fencing works well for this application, or anything that meets the following specifications:

• reasonably heavy (e.g., 6 gauge)

• at least 3 feet in height

• a mesh size that is 6x6 inches or smaller (2x4 inches is ideal).

• Install sturdy stakes or supports in multiple locations around the wire cage and attach the fencing to it. This will keep beavers from pushing the fencing against tree trunk and chewing the tree you are trying to protect. Steel T-posts work well for this application. If you are digging or pounding something into the ground, it is always advised to call 811 for locates before digging.

• Leave a 6-to-12 inch space between the wire cage and the tree trunk to prevent damage should beaver try to chew between the wires and to give the tree adequate room to grow.

Important notes about using beaver fencing:

• Beaver are strong and heavy, so make sure to select materials that will withstand a 60-pound animal putting its front legs on it.

• Check your wire barriers every year to make sure they do not inhibit tree growth. Barriers can be painted to make them less noticeable. Welded wire fencing coated with green vinyl that helps the fencing blend in is also available. Don't let your tree trunk grow into the wire or you could end up girdling the tree and killing it.

In areas where trees need to be protected from gnawing or felling, but where installing wire cages is not feasible, abrasive paint can be used as a deterrent. This method requires minimal material and labor, but is only useful on stems that are at least 6 inches in diameter (beaver won't be bothered by it if they can chew through the stem in one bite).

Instructions:

• Mix 8 ounces of fine dry sand (30-mil, 70-mil, or masonry sand) with 1 quart of interior latex paint (can be matched to the color of the tree trunk if desired).

• Apply the paint to the bottom 3 to 4 feet of the tree trunk and any exposed roots you also want to protect.

Important notes about using abrasive paint:

• Mix the paint in small batches right before using.

• Use interior latex paint and/or check for environmental safety before purchasing. Some exterior latex paints have heavy metals added to protect color from fading. Leaching of heavy metals into nearby streams is a concern for water quality, so such paints should be avoided.

• As the painted tree grows, areas of unprotected bark will emerge. Check the trees annually and add paint when you notice significant areas of unprotected bark.

In areas where large sections of vegetation need to be protected from beaver, electric fencing has been shown to be an effective solution. These can be relatively low cost with two bare wires, steel T posts, plastic insulators, and a small solar charger. Such a system would include:

• At least two electrical wires, set at 6-inches and 10-inches from the ground.

• A grounding system for the fence charger.

• Vegetation maintenance under and around the fence.

Important notes about using electric fencing:

• Electric fences become ineffective if vegetation grows around them or if branches fall on them. In the dry season, this can also cause a fire hazard. Electric fencing should be inspected periodically to ensure it has not shorted out.

• Electric fencing is less noticeable than a large fence enclosure, but if you have pets or small children that are unaccustomed to having electric fence in their space, there may be safety issues to consider.

Another way to keep beaver from coming into your yard and damaging your prized trees and shrubs is to plant and maintain a "beaver buffer" between the stream and your landscaped area. A beaver buffer should be composed of a more or less equal mix of native riparian plants that are preferred by beaver and native riparian plants that are unpalatable to beaver. The wider the beaver buffer, the less likely the beaver are to come into your landscaping or orchards looking for food.

Native Riparian Plants that are Unpalatable to Beaver: Native species that do well in riparian areas that beaver typically avoid include tall Oregon grape, Pacific ninebark, red elderberry, cascara, osoberry, clustered wild rose, Douglas spiraea, and twinberry.

Native Riparian Plants Preferred by Beaver: Native species that beaver prefer to eat include willow, red-osier dogwood, Oregon ash, bigleaf maple, and black cottonwood. These species have coevolved with beaver and will continue to re-sprout even after repeated cutting. However, young plantings will need to be temporarily protected until they are established if beaver are already present in the area.

Important notes about beaver buffers:

• Look for these species at local native

  plant sales and plant in the fall or winter to take advantage of natural rainfall to help get them established.

• The City of Salem offers some of the above species through our free tree program for streamside residents.

• The planting of unpalatable plants can be used in some areas to achieve some overall habitat improvements while deterring foraging by beaver in a given area. However, planting of only unpalatable plants may cause beaver to venture further from the water in search of more palatable vegetation.

• Dense patches of native plants that beaver prefer along the waterline can help focus beaver foraging attention away from other vegetation. However, mixing in some unpalatable plants ensures canopy over the stream and banks even after beaver eat all their preferred vegetation.