Beavers relocated to save British Columbia's wetlands

A method has been found to utilize the work of beavers in British Columbia. The rodents, which were causing damage to local farms, have been relocated to drying swamps where they are expected to help rejuvenate the environment.

Two adult beavers building dams and reservoirs in British Columbia have been relocated, causing problems for local farmers. Now, they can create wetlands without interference in places where they are needed.

One of these animals, previously injured, was treated at the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS) center. After a successful recovery process, the pair of beavers was released on the Nooaitch Indian Reserve. Their activities are essential for restoring drying wetlands. IWRS noted on its social media profile that restoring swamps increases resilience to fires and drought while also helping to protect against floods.

The beavers were caught at landowners' request near Merritt, British Columbia. This task was entrusted to biologist Tom Willms, who took the animals to the IWRS center at the end of June this year. According to the institute, IWRS is part of an environmental protection project run by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT).

Public broadcaster CBC relayed the words of biologists who emphasized that hunting led to a "drastic" decline in beaver populations, which in turn contributed to the drying up of swamps. Too few beavers mean that there are too few reservoirs created by dams, which maintain the moisture of the swamps. Biologists have begun to rebuild dams modeled on beaver constructions. It is precisely in these areas that the animals, unwanted elsewhere, are released.