It was a warm summer night. Doug and Carolyn Knutson were out on a stroll around the wetlands near their Belleville home when they saw something in the water: the local beaver. They’d seen beavers in this habitat for all the years they’d lived in town, but this time something was different.
The beaver was caught in a foot-hold trap, set as part of a drowning kit to kill the beaver in an attempt to protect infrastructure. Thanks to fortune, timing, good neighbours, and a brief moment of Herculean strength, the beaver was released from the trap, and, from all accounts, survived. But it led to questions: why was there a trap in this urban park? Why were beavers being targeted? What could be done?
Podcast Episode – The People Who Give A Dam: Protecting Beavers in Belleville
Through a maze of provincial and local policy, Doug, Carolyn, and their group of neighbours and friends discovered the city had hired a trapper to remove beavers from a culvert site regularly blocked by dams. Such damming activity can lead to serious infrastructure issues, including washing out roads and damaging homes. They reached out to The Fur-Bearers for assistance last year. And last week, Skip Lisle Beaver Deceiver
Defender Radio Podcast – Live In The Field
You can hear more about the entire project by listening to the latest episode of our Defender Radio Podcast , and explore the installations in the photo gallery below. The Fur-Bearers’ involvement in this was made entirely possible by your donations. Help us continue to save lives across Canada by donating to our beaver co-existence campaign by clicking here. As little as $5 per month or a one-time gift of $10 makes a difference!
We’d like to send a special thanks to the Knutsons and the Finkles, the hardworking City of Belleville crews, Councillor Kelly McCaw, Mayor Mitch Panciuk, and of course, Skip Lisle of Beaver Deceivers International. Together you saved lives, protected infrastructure, and safeguarded a habitat that is home to dozens, if not hundreds of species.
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Belleville Beaver Adventure Getting To Know Beavers Skip’s presentation to the City of Belleville and surrounding municipalities started off by exploring who beavers are and why they’re amazing. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google The Damage of The Fur Trade The fur trade nearly wiped beavers out of Canada and the US, and that meant major changes to the landscape. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Tree Wrapping A simple solution that protects trees. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google The Basics Skip walked staffers through his entire process from beginning to end. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Slow ’em down Small beavers and kits can work their way through some of the small fencing that protect pipes, so Skip adds additional layers to make it a less attractive plan for them. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Turtles! Turtles, all species of which are at risk in Ontario, live in habitats created and maintained by beaers. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Lots of Laughs The City of Belleville crew was outstanding and actually came up with the solution for the difficult second site Skip visited. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google A Difficult Site It’s hard to tell in this image, but there are three culvert pipes (one of which isn’t low enough to make much difference). The problem? A four-five foot drop right in front of them, making it difficult and potentially dangerous to work. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google A Difficult Site It’s hard to tell in this image, but there are three culvert pipes (one of which isn’t low enough to make much difference). The problem? A four-five foot drop right in front of them, making it difficult and potentially dangerous to work. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Beautiful Wetlands! This is another area of the wetland from the first site and a selfie from Defender Radio podcast host Michael Howie. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Getting Involved Crews helped Skip prepare materials for the flow devices. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Beaver Sign Felled trees and chewed bark are sure signs of beaver activity. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Using epoxy-treated steel and adding epoxy to sensitive joints can help fencing last longer in acidic water, or waters where they’re exposed to road salts. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google A Team Effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google A Team Effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Telling Stories Local filmmaker Doug Knutson helped save the life of a beaver last year, prompting this entire adventure. Here, he films Skip’s work for an upcoming documentary. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Telling Stories Local filmmaker Doug Knutson helped save the life of a beaver last year, prompting this entire adventure. Here, he has one hand on a camera and one hand helping installation. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Team effort City crews helped Skip and learned the basics of how flow devices and his famous Beaver Deceivers function. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Telling Stories Local filmmaker Doug Knutson helped save the life of a beaver last year, prompting this entire adventure. Here, he sets up shots in the wetland. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google In-field Interviews Michael Howie, host of our Defender Radio Podcast, interviewed the players in the field, including Skip Lisle! originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 511 camerasoftware Google A small hole in the bottom corner of the culvert fence and an S bend created naturally will mean beavers and turtles can get through the flow device, but beavers won’t be able to drag or move debris to dam the opening. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Overnight It only took a few hours for beavers to start testing the fencing put in place by Skip. They’ll be able to dam against this fence, but because of the height of tubes, won’t be able to fully block the culvert again. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Difficult Site The entrance to this large, cement culvert was lined with natural and placed stones and rocks, making it nearly impossible to drive stakes in. Skip found alternative solutions. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Getting Work Done Skip treats every site as unique and brings the passion of a master craftsman to his trade. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Home A beaver lodge in a dammed area further upstream from where the culvert was being worked on. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Telling Stories Local filmmaker Doug Knutson helped save the life of a beaver last year, prompting this entire adventure. Here, he films Skip’s work for an upcoming documentary. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Telling Stories Local filmmaker Doug Knutson helped save the life of a beaver last year, prompting this entire adventure. Here, he films Skip’s work for an upcoming documentary. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Lay of the Land The City of Belleville had attempted their own flow device – Skip noted it was an admirable job, but removed it to implement his invention, the Beaver Deceiver. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 1227 camerasoftware Google Helping Hands Holding a boom mic, keeping a chainsaw handy, whatever the task, The Fur-Bearers are ready! originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 511 camerasoftware Google Wetland Sunsets The view over the wetland created and maintained by beavers was breathtaking, particularly as the sun set. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google Visit by the Mayor Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk stopped by to see the work and meet Skip. originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM height 920 width 690 camerasoftware Google
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